Approach

The WHO Academy will build on the World Health Organization’s established reputation as a learning institution that currently delivers more than 1,400 courses for internal and external learners via 18 different digital learning platforms across the organization. To this the Academy will bring a single, digital Learning Experience Platform featuring innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality technology to connect devices, users and data in the learning environment and to support learning through simulations. Learners will be able to access the full scope of courses developed and curated by the WHO Academy via desktop computer, laptop, tablet, and mobile phone – through a single profile and login.

When it is in full operation, the Academy will be the WHO’s centre for mid-career training programmes, for both WHO staff and outside learners, and a premier global institution for lifelong learning in health. By design, it will also be a leading provider of training and simulation on health emergency preparedness, response and disease outbreak control.

Offering digital courses over the Internet to both fixed and mobile devices – and in some cases blended with onsite classroom training – the WHO Academy will speed the latest health-related evidence and practices to millions of health workers, managers, health policy specialists and others around the world. 

Using the latest digital technologies and proven innovations in adult learning, the WHO Academy will aim to close the gap between “can” and “do” in health care that negatively impacts billions of lives.

In this way, the Academy will implement a user-centered, immersive, and hyper-personalized approach that supports and coaches users on their individualized learning pathways, and facilitates the ongoing development of their competencies and practices.

A key feature of the WHO Academy will be a digital accreditation and certification functionality. The WHO Academy will award digital micro-credentials to learners to verify the competencies they gain from the Academy’s courses. WHO is now working with health sector regulatory authorities worldwide to advance an open certification scheme that will enable learners to share the “digital badges” they earn with employers and regulators as they advance through their careers.