Disease Control – (M.Sc.)

The Master in Public Health - Disease Control (MDC) is a ten-month international course for health professionals involved in disease control or reproductive health programmes in low and middle-income countries.

The MDC teaching team wants to contribute to better disease prevention and control by supporting the programme managers in their key functions: formulating a control policy and implementing and evaluating a programme.

The course not only draws on the unique expertise of the ITM in tropical diseases, reproductive health, epidemiology and health systems strengthening, but also benefits of the rich exchange of experience between students from many different countries.

Part of the course is taught jointly with the Master in Public Health – orientation Health Systems Management and Policy. It is alternately organised in English and French.

Learning objectives The main learning objectives of the MDC course are guided by the profile of a typical programme manager.

During the course, the participants should acquire:

* Knowledge and skills for evidence-based disease control strategy and health policy formulation
* The capacity to appraise and master the interaction with the health systems environment
* Knowledge and skills for disease control/reproductive health programme management and evaluation
* Communication and negotiation skills
* A commitment towards health goals that are based on medical ethics and human rights.

Teaching methods and support to participants The MDC course uses established methods for adult learning, that emphasize a participatory approach to learning. Exchange of experience is one of the cornerstones.

Teaching methods include interactive lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work and discussion sessions, and group or individual assignments.There is a strong emphasis on case studies involving participants in the design and evaluation of control programmes appropriate to their country of origin.

Teaching staff from ITM with extensive field experience are the major contributors to the course. Furthermore, a group of over 50 experts from other academic institutions, international organisations or national disease control programmes are invited to complement specific areas of expertise.

Participants receive academic support from the course coordinator throughout the training.

A life-long learning attitude is promoted during and after the course. The Alumni Network stimulates contacts between former MPH participants, and the lecturers of the ITM remain available for academic advice.

Evaluation and degree The student evaluation consists of four elements which have a different weight in the final mark: Tests count for 45%, generic competencies (oral communication skills, participation in discussions and teamwork) for 15%; the thesis document and the final examination (thesis defence and overall exam with an international jury) both have a weight of 20%.

The Degree of Master in Public Health - orientation Disease Control is awarded to participants who have successfully passed each of the four elements. Participants who do not meet the requirements for the Degree receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Duration of the course The MDC starts at the beginning of September and finishes mid-July. The MDC has a study load of 1.800 hours, which is equivalent to 60 ECTS credits.