Background of the system
I’d like to share an example of a system failure from my previous work, focusing on One Health education. The One Health Workforce Academy (OHWA) was created as a global online hub for training and certification in One Health, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and the need to work across these boundaries to address today’s challenges. It grew out of the USAID-funded One Health Workforce–Next Generation (OHW-NG) project, led by the University of California, Davis (One Health Institute), which followed the earlier One Health Workforce initiative launched in 2014. The University of Minnesota and Tufts University coordinated the work in partnership with two regional university networks: the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) and the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN).
The purpose of OHWA is to build the key skills needed for One Health practice. It also aims to establish a credentialing system that employers, governments, and universities can recognize as proof of One Health competency.
What made the system successful?
• Operation/Leadership: OHWA was supported by strong leadership across the Global One Health consortium. Courses were designed to be compatible, accessible, and relevant, user-friendly design, particularly for academics from member countries, enabling them to collectively address One Health issues.
• People/User Satisfaction: Since its launch, OHWA grew quickly. By 2025, more than 6,200 learners from 95 countries had enrolled. Most participants came from Africa and Southeast Asia, where OHWA worked closely with AFROHUN and SEAOHUN.
What made the system failed?
• Cost/Funding: After USAID funding ended, continuous IT support and system maintenance became very difficult to sustain. This eventually led to suspension of the platform in September, 2025.
• People: Recognition of OHWA credentials by employers, governments, universities remain a challenge, and course content should be updated regularly to meet the needs of diverse learners.