What Are the Interventions for Internationalizing the Academic Program of Health in Disasters and Emergencies? A Qualitative Study in the Context of Iran

Background:  The internationalization of universities is crucial for scientific advancement and global competitiveness. Since ۲۰۱۰, several Iranian universities have introduced the health in disasters and emergencies academic program, which offers substantial potential for international collaboration in education and research. This study seeks to identify key strategies and interventions to prioritize for advancing the program's internationalization within Iran's context. Methods: This qualitative research employed a conventional content analysis approach. A total of ۱۸ participants were strategically selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, ensuring rich and comprehensive insights. The data analysis was rigorously conducted using the inductive approach established by Graneheim and Lundman. Results: A total of six main categories and ۱۵ subcategories were identified from the data. The interventions and strategies for internationalizing the academic field of health in disasters and emergencies include political strategies, organizational strategies, human resource strategies, economic strategies, infrastructure development and improvement, as well as interactions related to Iran's high-risk profile. Conclusion: The academic program on health in disasters and emergencies can play specific and important roles in improving the functions of disaster health management at national and international levels. Establishing the educational and research facilities in the highly disaster-prone regions in Iran for the international collaboration, as well as joint research and training programs is highly recommended.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health ، Disaster ، Emergencies ، Internationalization ، Academic program ، Iran