By: Mira Garin
Inspired by the launch of SDSU’s new DrPH Program in Global Health Management, professors from the SDSU School of Public Health and Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU) School of Sport and Health Sciences began a new collaborative effort. Two SPH faculty from the Health Management & Policy Division, Dr. Connie Evashwick and Dr. Colleen Stoskopf, have diligently worked to explore new avenues for collaboration with CMU.
The proposal for this international collaboration details numerous characteristics that CMU and SDSU have in common that position the universities for a successful partnership. Like San Diego, Cardiff, Wales has long stretches of coastline and beaches with nearby mountains and rivers, as well as a combination of both urban and rural areas. Both community populations have English as a primary language with another relevant and regularly used local language, Spanish for San Diego and Welsh for Cardiff. Both universities and their strong community partners are faced with both the beauties and challenges of engaging local residents who come from multinational backgrounds.
“The relationship with CMU will provide a foundation for students to study abroad for a semester, go on study tours to Wales, complete internships, and engage in doctoral dissertation research,” Dr. Evashwick explained. The proposal also outlines opportunities for student group projects in courses co-taught by CMU and SDSU faculty, as well as numerous opportunities for faculty and researchers across the universities to network and collaborate with each other and be better positioned to ensure student and faculty success.
“Public Health is a practice degree,” Dr. Evashwick underscored, “and in today’s world, global health is a core component regardless of one’s career.” With this new collaboration, SDSU aims to deepen the impact and broaden the scope of global educational programs such as the DrPH Program in Global Health Management. “We want all students–undergraduate, master’s, doctoral–to be competent and confident in addressing global health issues,” Dr. Evashwick emphasized. “Having partner institutions in other countries gives our students the opportunities to learn global perspectives from first-hand experience.”
