Strengthening leadership for educational management in the Americas: an action research strategy

The training of human resources for health (HRH) is a recurring concern. The Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) - the educational platform of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) - seeks to improve access to public health education, emphasizing leadership training for teams that plan, implement, and evaluate policies and educational initiatives. The objective of this work is to present the results of a consultation with experts on the virtual course "Leadership for Educational Management in Health Organizations", as part of a PAHO/VCPH strategy to strengthen leadership capacities for educational management in the Americas. A qualitative action -research study was carried out using the Delphi method with two iterations of consultations (one virtual and one in person) with experts in educational management in health organizations. The results show the importance of eight dimensions of analysis: recipient profiles, competencies, approach and contents, activities, evaluation of and for learning, adaptability, implementation, and monitoring during and after the course. The participation of actors from different geopolitical spheres in the design and implementation of a regional educational initiative fosters adaptations in the context of its implementation and improves the likelihood it will be adopted. This course can play a strategic role as a catalyst in the formation and consolidation of an integrated network of organizations that strengthen educational leadership in the Americas. This study also highlights the value of the methodological strategy used to improve the quality of HRH training.