The evolving role of schools of public health in the 21st century

Schools, institutes and faculties of public health have been in existence for nearly a century. Continued development of public health, as a profession and as a discipline, is critical to improving population health and requires improved access to public health expertise and better training in key public health skills. Recently, a debate is being promoted about the relevance and direction of public health institutions in the 21st century. 
Are the existing models of public health schools preparing graduates for today’s world? Are they able to make significant contributions to improving the health of the population, particularly the poor and other marginalized groups? Do they support policy makers? Are they linked with Ministries of Health and of Education in the development of national health plans, including health systems and specifically, health workforce development?
Schools of public health attracts now a broad diversity of students, from young physicians, nurses, Ministry of Health staff, to social scientists and engineers, and a range of others whose daily work may impact on the health of the population. How schools answer to those expectations and at the same time manage responsibilities, opportunities and demands in different national contexts and national health systems and how they increase their links to regional or global networks are critical to a school’s relevance, quality and competitiveness.
There are a number of examples illustrating how professional public health associations at the global, regional and national levels are collaborating with the World Health Organization to find new ways to strengthen the role of public health and public health workforce, particularly in those countries with critical shortages (e.g.KM4PH network). The challenge is to quickly and efficiently scale up production of public health workforce with appropriate skills and competencies. Innovations in public health training, research and practice are key for  schools relevant to the 21st century’s health.