Responding to the need of postgraduate education for Planetary Health: Development of an online Master's Degree

Abstract

Planetary Health has emerged as a new approach to respond to the existential risks that the clime and global environmental crises pose to human societies. As stated by various stakeholders, the challenges involved in Planetary Health are of such magnitude that education must be at the forefront to obtain a meaningful response. Universities and higher education institutions have been specifically called to embed the concept of planetary stewardship in all curricula and train the next generation of researchers and change makers as a matter of urgency. As a response to this call, the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) developed the first online and asynchronous Master in Science (MSc) in Planetary Health. The aim of the programme is to train a new generation of academics and professionals who understand the challenges of Planetary Health and have tools to tackle them. This article describes the development of the curriculum of this MSc, presents the main characteristics of the programme and discusses some of the challenges encountered in the development of the programme and its implementation. The design of this MSc was based on: the alignment of the programme with the principles for Planetary Health education with a focus on human health; a multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary approach; the urgency to respond to the Anthropocene challenges; and the commitment to the 2030 Agenda. The MSc was recognized as an official degree by the Agency for Quality of the Catalan University System, included in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education, and the Spanish National Academic Coordination body in April 2021 and launched in October 2021. There are currently more than 50 students enrolled in the program coming from a broad range of disciplines and geographic locations. The information presented in this article and the discussion on challenges encountered in developing and implementing the programme can be useful for those working in the development of similar programs.

Human health and the health of Planet Earth go together

“…The planetary health community is also growing in Catalonia. Some ongoing initiatives include a collaboration between two universities— Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and UPF—and the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal) research center, which launched an official master's degree in Planetary Health in 2021 [66]. Additionally, the Council for Sustainable Development of Catalonia is promoting planetary health within the framework of the European Network of Advisory Councils for Environment and Sustainable Development (EEAC network).…”

Outcomes from the First European Planetary Health Congress at ARTIS in Amsterdam

“…Approximately 40 members of the European Planetary Health Hub attended the session, representing all levels of education, from school and university to continued professional development. During the first half of the session, members gave presentations on the recent Postgraduate Planetary Health Meeting in Barcelona [56], the integration of art into planetary health [57], and their experiences in planning and developing planetary health education at different levels (high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate [58]). During the second half of the session, attendees engaged in two interactive exercises: mapping educational activities across Europe and listing topics that should be included in the planetary health curriculum.…”