The Global Mapping of Training Programmes is a cornerstone project spearheaded by the Migration Health and Development Research Initiative (MHADRI) in close partnership with the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) at Wits University and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This ambitious initiative maps and evaluates the global landscape of educational and capacity-building systems that operate at the critical nexus of human mobility and public health.
Project Overview & Core Findings
By analyzing curricula and delivery models across academic institutions, civil society organizations, and government entities, the initiative investigated how migration health knowledge is systematically shared. The assessment revealed several structural trends:
- Academic Dominance: Most specialized capacity development is concentrated within public higher education institutions, with a third offering formal postgraduate degrees.
- Curriculum Gaps: Existing programs heavily emphasize macro-level policy and strategy development (20%) but significantly neglect vital technical modules like data management, health metrics (6%), and rigorous evaluation frameworks (10%).
- Traditional Delivery: Instruction remains predominantly restricted to traditional face-to-face classroom models, showcasing an underutilized potential for digital frameworks or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Outputs and Tangible Outcomes
The project translated these insights into active operational milestones, expanding the core resource offerings of the MHADRI Network:
- Centralized Knowledge Infrastructure: Creation of an open-source database to register, track, and locate global training efforts across sectors.
- Cross-Regional Collaborations: Bridging the gap between Global North and Global South institutions, successfully fostering an international community of practice for shared academic and pedagogical research.
- Applied Curriculum Innovation: Development of modern, target-driven educational courses. A key example is the successful rollout of the joint Online Migration and Health Course, which effectively upskilled over 130 public health practitioners across 11 nations.
Systemic Impact
This global mapping initiative directly advances evidence-informed, rights-based, and inclusive migration health policies. By identifying curriculum vulnerabilities and offering data-driven alternatives, the project influences international training entities to reshape their courses around hard metrics and field-based impact evaluation. Ultimately, this effort enhances the capacity of global healthcare systems to protect the well-being and fundamental health rights of displaced individuals and host communities worldwide.