Merck's 'Jingwei Initiative' Upgraded to Strengthen China's Public Health Workforce

MSD Launches "China Seedling Association-MSD Jingwei Public Health Scholarship Program Phase II" and Strategic Dialogue on Capacity Building for Backbone Talents in Public Health in China

ShanghaiNovember 9, 2023PR Newswire -- During the 2023 Sixth China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CIIE"), MSD's "Jingwei Program" was comprehensively upgraded, collaborating with multiple parties to cultivate on-campus talents and in-service backbone personnel, supporting the construction of public health talent systems. As a key project of the "Jingwei Program" to support on-campus public health talents, the second phase of the "China Vaccine Industry Association-MSD Jingwei Public Health Scholarship Project," initiated by MSD and the China Vaccine Industry Association, was officially launched. Leaders from the China Vaccine Industry Association, Tsinghua University, Shanxi Medical University, Sun Yat-sen University, China Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology School of Public Health, along with senior representatives from MSD China, jointly stamped the Great Wall scroll symbolizing China's public health cause. The integration of industry, academia, and research is committed to safeguarding people’s health, building a strong and sustainable Great Wall for China’s public health. During the event, Professor Cui Fuqiang from Peking University School of Public Health, who is responsible for the "Jingwei Program" Young and Middle-aged Science and Technology Backbone Talent Training Project in Public Health, held a strategic dialogue with representatives from six key public health schools across China and Dr. Zheng Yiman, Vice President of Medical Affairs at MSD China. They discussed opportunities and challenges in enhancing the capabilities of China’s public health backbone talents from aspects such as discipline construction, practical skills enhancement, faculty reserves, and optimization of the research environment.

"China Vaccine Association-MSD Jingwei Public Health Scholarship Program" Phase II Officially Launched

Notably, during the previous CIIE, MSD and the China Vaccine Industry Association (CNVIA) launched the "CNVIA-MSD Elite Health Public Health Scholarship Program." The program has already borne fruit at the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University and the School of Public Health of China Medical University, supporting 60 outstanding students in pursuing their career development dreams. This year, the Elite Health Public Health Scholarship Program has once again come to the CIIE platform, setting sail on a brand-new journey.

Liu Dawei, Secretary General of the China Vaccine Industry Association (CVIA), introduced that the MSD "Jingwei Program" represents a new journey where both parties join hands on the path of public welfare. As the project continues to deepen and expand, the CVIA will write a new chapter of cooperation with MSD, initiating the second phase of the project collaboration. Building on the original two universities, the scope of university coverage will be further expanded, and the support for scholarships and grants will be increased to include six top universities: Tsinghua University, Shanxi Medical University, Sun Yat-sen University, China Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. This initiative aims to inspire more academic talents in higher education institutions to focus on their studies and overcome challenges with determination, jointly painting a new picture for China's public health endeavors.

Speech by Liu Dawei, Secretary General of the China Vaccine Industry Association

Multiple Measures: In terms of on-the-job backbone training, MSD and Peking University jointly launched the "Jingwei Program" – a public health young and middle-aged scientific and technological backbone talent training project in February this year. It aims to more effectively cultivate public health professionals aged 30-45 who are currently employed, by enhancing their overall quality and practical abilities. This initiative helps them adapt to the challenges of infectious disease prevention and control in the new era, continuously providing health services to the public.

Jiannan Zhan, Dean of the School of Public Health at Peking University, pointed out that in view of the challenges in the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the new era and the demand for talent cultivation brought by the reform of the disease control system, there is an urgent need to vigorously cultivate a group of public health technical backbone personnel with profound professional expertise, strategic thinking, international perspective, and the ability to solve practical problems. This will promote the high-quality, dynamic, and sustainable development goals of China's public health system. The "Jingwei Plan" for the cultivation of young and middle-aged scientific and technological backbone talents in public health has, through conducting surveys targeting young and middle-aged personnel in the disease control system, comprehensively understood the knowledge and skills mastery, leadership levels, training needs and preferences, as well as the awareness and demands for medical-prevention integration among scientific and technological backbone talents in the fields of public health emergencies and infectious disease prevention and control, laying a solid foundation for the project to enter its subsequent stages. The "Research Report on the Competency Model of China's Public Health Scientific and Technological Backbone Talents," led by the School of Public Health at Peking University, was also first released at this year's CIIE.

Dean of Peking University School of Public Health, Siyan Zhan, Delivers a Speech

The "14th Five-Year Plan" and the "Healthy China 2030" outline both emphasize the importance of "building a strong public health system and strengthening the construction of public health talent teams." As a global leading research-intensive biopharmaceutical company, MSD has been deeply involved in the vaccine field for over a century, always committed to continuously improving the accessibility and affordability of vaccine products for the public. From prevention to treatment, it builds health barriers covering the entire life cycle for different age groups. In response to the needs of the times and the development of the public health system, MSD has joined hands with multiple partners to launch the "Jingwei Program," comprehensively empowering public health students and in-service backbone personnel, aiming to expand the talent pool and strengthen the elite team, promoting the development of public health towards the goals planned in the blueprint for building a Healthy China. This is also one of MSD's important practices in fulfilling its long-term commitment to the Chinese market.

"The CMAC-MSD Jingwei Public Health Scholarship Program" will continue to support the training of public health professionals in universities, injecting new vitality into China's public health sector. When these fresh forces enter their professional careers, the "Jingwei Plan for Public Health Mid-Career and Young Backbone Talent Development Program" will further enhance the capabilities of practicing public health professionals, paving the way for broader career prospects. At the same time, regarding the training objectives and methods for mid-career and young backbone talents, MSD and Peking University are actively collaborating to integrate teaching and research, addressing practical issues in public health emergency response and infectious disease prevention and control. The aim is to cultivate future-oriented public health professionals with an international perspective.

The CIIE advocates global win-win cooperation, providing an excellent platform for shared creation to explore effective paths for talent cultivation and help China’s public health system development get on the "fast track." Looking ahead, MSD will continue to collaborate with the strengths of industry, academia, and research to jointly write the CIIE story of innovation, cooperation, and commitment under the "Jingwei Program," comprehensively empowering talent cultivation in the public health sector, promoting the progress and development of China’s public health undertakings, and jointly safeguarding people's health.

If you want to learn more about disease knowledge, please consult a healthcare professional.