The Department of International Health

Collaboration between European governments and organizations has major consequences for the life of the citizens within the Member States. It is expected that the role of the EU will increase in the years to come. The consequences are apparent from the way in which health and healthcare are considered and discussed internationally, within Europe and nationally.

Growing European-level involvement can be observed in today’s research agenda, fostering the concept of a European research agenda. The necessary link between research and education within an academic setting implies an increased European-level orientation within research and a transition of this orientation into education.

The Department of International Health at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences has a European outlook which origins from the content of the key-activities of the European Union. The “Europe” of the department is not limited to the Member States of the EU, but includes the entire WHO-EURO region.

Additionally the Department of International Health takes up the strategic decision of the faculty to build up co-operations with India and animate the cooperation regarding Public Health.  

It will influence national, transnational, and European policy and institutes taking advantage of the geographical situation of Maastricht in a Euregional setting. Its education and research places local, regional, and national health developments into a wider European and global perspective. The department is leading in and outside the faculty in conceptualizing the European perspective towards health.

The following key research themes have been identified:

-         Research in the area of the work done of the European Commission regarding health 
  (e.g. EU Health Strategy)

-         Epidemiological research linked to European policy research

-         Euregional and European/international comparative research on cross border
  developments in the field of health and care

-         Research focusing on public health surveillance systems

-         Public Health problems of accession countries in transition (especially the Balkan countries).

The core educational activities include the bachelor’s program in European Public Health and the Master of European Public Health program. A PhD program will follow.