Abstract:

Introduction:
NextGenU.org and our distinguished partners have offered, since 2012, free and accredited health sciences courses; we have now developed the world’s first free (and now U.S.-accredited and globally tested) degree: the Master of Public Health (MPH). All components of the MPH (like all NextGenU trainings) are free, including registration, learning, testing, and granting of a degree/certificate upon completion.
To create this innovative training we have collaborated and continue collaborating with globally leading public health organizations and educational institutions including the American College of Preventive Medicine, Asian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, European Lifestyle Medicine Organization, Grand Challenges Canada, Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Stanford University, U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and World Health Organization (WHO). The MPH degree provides accredited (U.S. accreditation received May 2019), tested, and validated interprofessional education, improving the health of the underserved, removing barriers to diversifying the health professional workforce, and promoting understanding of global/population health.

Methods:
All an institution needs to add to NextGenU.org’s MPH are qualified (e.g., someone with an MPH) mentors to guide the competency-based mentored activities, including the practicum. Universities may use any or all parts and offer the courses or degrees to students for free or for whatever cost the university needs to support the mentoring activities.

Results:
Data showing identical knowledge acquisition and superior student satisfaction will be exhibited. Individual MPH courses and the full degree are currently being used in such an academic model (or in the stage of finalizing) by CDC, New York Institute of Technology, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Pacific Coast University, Stanford University, University of the Incarnate Word, University of Trinidad and Tobago, and WHO’s Virtual Campus of Public Health. Studies of NextGenU’s efficacy can be found at http://www.nextgenu.org/course/view.php?id=206#2. All NextGenU trainings are reviewed and endorsed by our global academic, governmental, and professional partners and use existing, expert-created, published competencies addressed by publicly posted, screened educational resources. All program components can be coordinated through NextGenU.org’s learning platform, either for learners directly (for those wanting only to take individual courses) or for institutions adopting the full MPH degree program. Knowledge acquisition is computer-based, done by asynchronously studying learning resources from academic, governmental, professional society, and peer-reviewed journal sources. Engaging local and/or remote peer and mentored activities fulfill other competencies that address skills, behaviors, and attitudes, creating worldwide communities of practice. For each course in the MPH program there are practice quizzes in each module, and at the end of each course students complete a (free) final exam. Trainees must also satisfactorily complete required peer- and mentor-guided activities.

Conclusion:
This is an opportunity for ICERI attendees to discover and discuss the technological/educational innovations inherent in NextGenU.org’s uniquely free and accredited MPH and other health courses and to distribute this resource across their own institutions and countries.

Keywords:

MPH, higher education, community of practice, knowledge sharing, health sciences, preventive medicine, lifestyle medicine, free degree, educational innovation.