Study on One Health education in South East Asia

A study led by Sabine Didier-Laurent for the Grease Network was carried out to produce a status report on One-Health education in South East Asia in order to guide the finalization of the InterRisk master curriculum and to prepare the launching of the Master at Kasetsart University.

Methods: The first step consisted into identifying courses relating to OH, EH or Global health concepts according to the different definitions given by international organizations. Then contacts were taken with people involved into these educational programs (academics, coordination units and funding agencies) to implement in depth interviews. Questionnaires were structured in 3 sections addressing (i) pedagogic objectives (ii) modules’ structure and (iii) funding scheme. The questionnaires included open and closed questions.

Results: Twelve educational programs were identified in 4 countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia): 5 at postgraduate level, 5 modules integrated among academic training and 2 short courses. Then 21 interviews were conducted across Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

All these programs were developed very recently and mainly funded under research projects. The majorities of the courses (8/12) are very broadly open to different disciplinary branches, relating to health, ecological or environmental sciences. However only short duration ones are attracting diverse disciplines, while the long training courses do not include more than one or two branches. Among the disciplines taught within the curriculum, environmental modules are well represented, while economic and social sciences are present only in half of the programs. Most of the courses (8/12) used different teaching methods like applied case studies, discussion groups, games and problem-based learning. All of them organized field trips, from one day to several months of internship.

Conclusion: This study provides a first overview of One Health academic training in Southeast Asia. It can bring ways of improvement about the need for teachers’ training, the promotion of interdisciplinarity, especially in “traditional” human health medicine, and a better integration of social sciences in education. (Following this study, a communication has been submitted to the Global health Institute international conference that was organized in February 2015 by Chiang Mai University).