Chairs: Brigitte Strahwald & Katharina Hell
Objectives
As digital technologies, AI, mobile apps, and data science become ever more central to public health practice, there is growing recognition that traditional public health curricula must evolve. However, there is a mismatch between what is currently taught in many public health, epidemiology and medical programs, and the competencies needed to harness digital tools in real-world public health settings. The Digital Public Health SkillsLab (DPH-SkillsLab) at LMU Munich is a concrete response: a flexible, practice -oriented environment for students and lecturers to acquire and apply skills in AI, digital health apps, usability/UX, cybersecurity, project management, and more.
This panel aims to initiate a Europe-wide discussion on how to design, implement, and sustain training infrastructures (like skills labs) that prepare the next generation of public health professionals to lead digital transformation – bridging academic learning, practical experimentation, and real-world impact.
This panel directly addresses a core challenge in Digital Public Health: the widening gap between rapidly advancing digital technologies and the competencies currently fostered in public health education and training. The session contributes to research, practice, and innovation by focusing on capacity building and workforce development as foundational enablers of effective Digital Public Health implementation.
Beyond presenting individual initiatives, the session is explicitly designed as a starting point for a European – and potentially international – coordination of efforts in Digital Public Health education. Its aim is to bring together educators, researchers, and practitioners to exchange best practices, identify shared challenges, and collaboratively shape the future of teaching and training in this field.
Key themes include:
- Competency and skills development for Digital Public Health across career stages;
- Innovative teaching and training formats, including skills labs, project-based learning, and co-creation environments;
- Interdisciplinary approaches linking public health, data science and digital technologies;
- Curricular integration and institutional change, with a focus on sustainable embedding of Digital Public Health into existing degree programmes;
- European perspectives and alignment, fostering comparability, collaboration, and shared standards.
The Digital Public Health SkillsLab at LMU Munich serves as a case study, complemented by experiences from other universities and institutions. Through an interactive fishbowl discussion and joint future-planning segment, participants will contribute to the co-creation of a shared roadmap for Digital Public Health education, potentially including a common competency framework and a catalogue of required educational and infrastructural components.
Intended Audience and Expected Participants
The session is aimed at a broad and interdisciplinary audience involved in Digital Public Health, including:
- researchers and educators in public health, epidemiology, digital health, and data science;
- public health practitioners and professionals involved in capacity building or workforce development;
- policymakers and representatives from public health agencies interested in training and skills strategies;
- early-career researchers and students seeking orientation in Digital Public Health competencies
The interactive design encourages active participation and cross-sector dialogue. We expect 30-40 participants with strong engagement from colleagues involved in teaching, training, and skills development, European institutions and conference attendees interested in the future Digital Public Health workforce.
Schedule
The proposed agenda (including estimated times) is shown on the table below.
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | Welcome and flash poll: Digital Public Health teaching activities among the audience |
| 5 minutes | Digital Public Health SkillsLab – co-creation and curricular integration Brigitte Strahwald, Katharina Hell |
| 5 minutes | Reflecting Digital Transformations in Public Health Education & Training Rok Hrzic |
| 5 minutes | Data Sciences as Better Public Health Enabler Gayo Diallo |
| 25 minutes | Fishbowl discussion and joint future planning: Towards a European roadmap for Digital Public Health education |
Speakers
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich & Pettenkofer School of Public Health
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich & Pettenkofer School of Public Health
Bordeaux Public Health School (ISPED) of the University of Bordeaux
Maastricht University, ASPHER