Programme Accreditation Overview

RATIONALE

The International Council for the Accreditation and Advancement of Public Health Education (ICAPHE) provides accreditation services grounded in a formative, non-prescriptive approach, shaped by the collective insight of the global public health education community. Our processes support programmes by recognising their quality and encouraging continual improvement. Rather than imposing rigid standards, ICAPHE encourages reflective practice and peer-led dialogue, ensuring that accreditation is a meaningful, developmental experience.

This community-driven model allows institutions to showcase their strengths both internally within their organisations but also externally to prospective students and stakeholders, enhancing their reputation and visibility while also benefiting from shared learning.

Accreditation by ICAPHE serves not only as a mark of quality but also as a catalyst for ongoing growth, ensuring relevance and responsiveness to public health challenges across diverse contexts. We believe quality assurance should empower, not constrain. Our services are designed to build capacity, encourage innovation and support excellence in public health education worldwide.

GOALS

To recognise and enhance the quality of public health education offerings through a formative, community-driven process that supports continuous improvement.
To abide by international norms of good practice such as the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and the International Standards and Guidelines (INAAQHE) for quality assurance in higher education, while respecting the diversity of national and international education and public health systems.
To ensure all procedures are shaped and implemented by those with specialist knowledge and practical experience in both public health and accreditation.
To maintain an international scope that encourages diversity, relevance and contextual sensitivity in all accreditation activities.
To operate with transparency, integrity and without conflicts of interest, promoting trust and fairness throughout the process.
To create a space for bi-directional learning and dialogue between applicants and those conducting accreditation, encouraging mutual growth and shared understanding.
To deliver tangible benefits to applicants, educators, students and stakeholders, both through the reflective debate and the improvements the process may help to bring about.
To promote innovation and capacity-building, supporting institutions in responding to evolving public health needs locally and globally.
To ensure the advice and recommendations provided are practical and context-sensitive, aligning with the applicant’s specific needs, aspirations, and local or institutional realities.
To offer a supportive and sustained process, providing guidance and engagement throughout the full duration of the accreditation cycle, not only at the point of assessment but as part of an ongoing relationship.

PROCESSES

We operate with standard accreditation processes of application for candidacy (eligibility) followed by a self-evaluation, site review visit and a decision. Follow the links below for further details: The International Council for the Accreditation and Advancement of Public Health Education (ICAPHE) offers accreditation rooted in a developmental, non-prescriptive methodology, informed by the shared expertise of the global public health education community. Our approach supports educational programmes by acknowledging their quality and supporting continuous enhancement. ICAPHE promotes critical reflection and collaborative peer engagement, making accreditation a constructive and enriching process.
This collaborative framework enables institutions to highlight their strengths both within their own organisations as well as to external audiences, such as prospective students and partners. It not only bolsters institutional reputation and visibility but also encourages mutual learning across the sector.
An ICAPHE accreditation is more than just a quality mark, it acts as a driver for ongoing development, ensuring programmes remain relevant and responsive to evolving public health challenges in varied settings. We view quality assurance as a tool for empowerment rather than restriction, offering services that nurture capacity, support innovation and uphold excellence in public health education across the globe.