The University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health (UBC SPPH) has signed two new Statements of Cooperation (SoC) with leading institutions in Thailand and Canada, marking another step forward in its global health engagement. These new agreements will support the launch of the School’s newest graduate program – Master of Global Health, set to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2026.
The first agreement, signed with the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at Thammasat University (TU) in Thailand, follows a visit to Bangkok by Dr. Aslam Anis, Director of UBC SPPH, and Dr. Daniel Steel, Global Health Program Director, in January 2025. During their visit, the UBC delegation met with the TU FPH Executive Management Team, Global Health program leadership Dr. Marc Van der Putten and Dr. Li Liang, as well as representatives from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The discussions focused on shared interests in global health education and research.
The second agreement was signed with the Faculty of Health at York University in Ontario, following a March 2025 meeting between the SPPH Master of Global Health (MGH) team and leadership from York Faculty of Health and School of Global Health. The two programs found strong alignment in philosophy and curriculum and identified numerous areas for potential collaboration.
Each Statement of Cooperation outlines shared commitments to advancing education, research, and innovation in global and public health. Intended areas of collaboration include:
- Student practicums and exchange opportunities
- Guest lectures by faculty members with a focus on global health
- Joint research funding applications
- Academic workshops, forums, and conferences
- Faculty exchanges and joint participation in global health networks
“These agreements are a reflection of our ongoing commitment to global engagement and fostering international partnerships that can lead to meaningful improvements in health outcomes worldwide,” said Dr. Daniel Steel.
The agreements set the stage for cooperation over the next five years, with a focus on knowledge exchange and capacity building across global contexts.
Check out the Master of Global Health program website for more information on this exciting new program!