Programme Accreditation Criteria

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Self-Evaluation Handbook

Accreditation Procedures

There are seven distinct criteria which are broken down into a number of sub-criteria, all of which are to be addressed within the Self-Evaluation Report and accompanied by required documentation or other sources of information. Bulleted checkpoints provide a basis for the arguments and conclusions with respect to each criterion.

The intention is for the criteria and standards to be specific enough to define what is essential in the education of a public health professional at a Bachelors and Masters level. At the same time, standards are intended to be flexible enough to allow for the diversity and richness of public health programmes throughout Europe, which are very much structured within a very specific and unique local contexts.

The notion underlying the criteria and standards is to set a benchmark and support the improvement in the quality of public health educational programmes.

They are not intended to dictate curriculum or administration specific for each programme but rather to provide a framework or guidelines on which each programme will be evaluated.

APHEA aims to be complementary to existing systems - applicants are encouraged to use and include accreditation documents produced for other (national or international) quality review purposes if they correspond to the relevant sections.

Criterion I: Aims and Objectives of the Public Health Programme
The programme has a clearly formulated programme aim or set of programme aims, conducive to the development of final qualifications (competences) in public health and which are responsive to changing environment, evidence, health needs and demands of populations.

Criterion II: Governance and Organisation of the Programme
The governance, organisational structure and processes are appropriate to fulfilling the aim and objectives of the programme, and consistent with the policies and requirements of the host institution.

Criterion III: Learning and Teaching
The curriculum, learning objectives, educational methodology (teaching concept), assessment procedures and outcomes are consistent with the programme aims and final qualifications of the public health programme.

Criterion IV: Students and Graduates
The programme has policies and procedures on student recruitment, enrolment, support and follow-up which are assessed and revised regularly.

Criterion V: Human Resources and Staffing
The profile and number of teaching and support staff is appropriate to the provision of the stated programme aim and final qualifications of the programme and its continuous development.

Criterion VI: Supportive Services, Budgeting and Facilities
The accommodation, budget and facilities are adequate to realise the programme aims, final qualifications and learning objectives in line with the educational methodology in an effective and efficient way.

Criterion VII: Internal Quality Management
There is an internal system for assuring quality and supporting policy development, decisions, and actions.