The Erasmus+ project “Competences in Health Network Management (Com.HeNet)” goes on from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2022. It aims to develop curriculum modules for “Health Network Management” (HNM) with a European standard, which enables a health professional to implement and manage a health network (HN) on regional level. To get an efficient overview about the needed competences for this HN manager and the given structural and environmental circumstances, these competences will be analysed through desktop research and structured/guided interviews with relevant stakeholders and experts in the participating countries and envolved into national competence profiles. Based on the national competence profiles, a core competence profile will be developed for an HNM through comparison of all information gathered and a collation with relevant European Competence Frameworks and European Qualification Framework (EQF).
Furthermore, important objectives are new curriculum modules designed for EQF level 6 with content and materials based on the developed core competence profile. These curriculum modules will be tested through a pilot training with participants representing the proposed target groups of degree holders in health and health professionals. The modules will then be reviewed based on the pilot training and the training participants’ and trainers’ feedback.
Additionally, an important objective of Com.HeNet is the description of a Data Management System and the development of a guideline for digital skills and competences, on the basis and with the use of the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.1). Both will constitute additional, independent output of the project and be used for the development of the curriculum modules and for the HN implementation and management. These are important aspects because of the proceeding digitalization and the significance of digital data and information for improving health care and promotion of health.
As important outputs of the project, the curriculum modules are expected to get included into higher education and vocational education curricula to enable health professionals to implement and manage regional HNs in EU countries. In the long run, the project contributes to the improvement of regional supply structures in EU countries. In this way, Com.HeNet contributes to the EU Health Strategy. Therefore, the curriculum modules have an explicit European added value and will contribute to overcoming the mismatch between given and needed competences in health sector across the EU.