The overall objective of the degree programme is to follow an integrated One Health approach linking animal and human health, with a focus on the relationship between infectious and parasitic diseases of animals and humans (zoonoses), diseases and ecosystem health in order to improve disease control strategies, ecosystem sustainability, food security and rural development. 

Rationale

The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates that transdisciplinary surveillance and disease control systems, integrating veterinary, medical and environmental sciences, are more crucial than ever to efficiently and swiftly address diseases at the human-animal interface. Moreover, a more globally connected world expedites the spread of diseases, which calls for multisectoral collaboration and actions beyond the national or regional levels.

In the advanced 'Master of Science in Global One Health: Diseases at the human-animal interface', you will receive transdisciplinary training that equips you with the insights and tools to contribute to the control of diseases at the human-animal interface in your role as researcher, veterinary/health professional or policymaker.

To provide you with a state-of-the art learning experience, the  University of Pretoria (UP), has teamed up with ITM, a world leader in training and research in tropical medicine. The Master programme allows you to fill the gaps in your knowledge and skills via a flexible and personalized study trajectory of on-campus and online learning activities. The student-centred approach will enable you to combine work and study and thus, to implement the knowledge and skills directly into your professional activities. Moreover, the international audience that is attracted to this programme creates a basis to expand your professional network and to contribute to improve the health of humans, animals and the environment at a global level.

Learning objectives

• Identify a complex health problem and how a “One Health” approach can be used to understand disease dynamics at the interface of human/ animal/ ecosystem health.
• Understand the professional roles of stakeholders and their strengths and limitations within the One Health paradigm.
• Design, plan and undertake a transdisciplinary research project within a One Health framework.
• Use appropriate methods to critically analyse characteristics, burden, transmission and interventions for zoonotic diseases and other health challenges.
• Develop or improve evidence-based and context-specific one health programmes.
• Monitor and evaluate an integrated intervention that considers impact on animal/human/ecosystem health.
• Develop skills to effectively disseminate scientific findings and communicate complex one health concepts and issues to a scientific and broader audience.
• Translate evidence into policy advice, guidelines and recommendations

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