This study investigated the perceptions, knowledge, experiences, educational needs, and career awareness related to global health among graduate students majoring in health sciences in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region of Korea. The findings revealed that pa...
This study investigated the perceptions, knowledge, experiences, educational needs, and career awareness related to global health among graduate students majoring in health sciences in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region of Korea. The findings revealed that participants generally recognized the importance and necessity of global health, with particularly high awareness regarding public-private cooperation, multidisciplinary approaches, and the development of professional competencies. However, their knowledge of specific roles of international organizations such as the WHO and detailed policies such as the SDGs was insufficient. Only about 10% of the students had practical experience in global health activities, but there was a strong demand and enthusiasm for education and information acquisition. Notably, higher levels of perception and knowledge of global health were associated with greater needs for education and capacity building. While the employment prospects in the global health field were evaluated positively, concrete career planning and preparation were found to be lacking. These results highlight the need for systematic support, including the expansion of global health-related courses, practical training and internship opportunities, and career mentoring. However, the study has limitations in terms of representativeness and generalizability due to the high proportion of female, nursing, and health science majors, students in their 30s and 40s, and those currently employed. Additionally, the use of self-reported survey data may have introduced subjective bias. Future research should include a broader sample encompassing various regions, majors, and age groups, and employ qualitative or mixed methods to more deeply analyze the effectiveness of global health education and policy improvement strategies.