PW03.1 - Pre-conference Session: Mapping Academic Curriculum to the Updated Practice Analysis Results Workshop

As the field of health education continues to evolve, academic programs must ensure their curricula remain aligned with contemporary professional practice and workforce expectations. This in depth pre conference workshop provides public health and community health professionals—whether new to curricular design or seasoned in academic program development—with the knowledge and tools needed to map academic coursework to the newly released HESPA III 2025 Competencies.

During this applied, hands on session, presenters will guide participants through the major updates reflected in the 2025 practice analysis, including revised Areas of Responsibility and refined Competencies and Sub competencies essential for preparing effective Health Education Specialists (HES). Participants will learn how to use a competency matrix grid, a practical tool for visually tracking curricular alignment, identifying gaps or redundancies, and strengthening program coherence across course offerings.

The workshop also explores common challenges faced by academic institutions, such as detecting overlooked competencies within existing syllabi, reducing unnecessary duplication in learning objectives, and ensuring that both entry level and advanced level content accurately reflects the expectations of the current workforce. Through an interactive activity, attendees will analyze examples from university programs that have successfully navigated curricular revisions, highlighting effective change processes and strategies that can be adapted for local use.

By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable skills for curriculum mapping and program assessment, along with complimentary access to the Competency Matrixes and the Competency Based Framework for Health Education Specialist 2025 publication—resources designed to support ongoing curricular refinement and accreditation readiness.

This workshop is ideal for faculty, program coordinators, academic leaders, and health education professionals seeking to strengthen competency based teaching and ensure their students are well-prepared for contemporary roles in health education and promotion.

By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable skills for curriculum mapping and program assessment, along with complimentary access to the Competency Matrixes and the Competency‑Based Framework for Health Education Specialist 2025 publication—resources designed to support ongoing curricular refinement and accreditation readiness.

This workshop is ideal for faculty, program coordinators, academic leaders, and health education professionals seeking to strengthen competency‑based teaching and ensure their students are well-prepared for contemporary roles in health education and promotion.