2010-2011 Launching the International Accreditation Program for Health Promoting Schools and establishing the International Accreditation Center for Health Promoting Schools
In response to the second generation health promoting schools mechanism, the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare has been advocating the HPS Accreditation and International Connection Program since 2011, emphasizing evidence-based health promotion schools and international communication. The management of the program was entrusted to Professor Fu-li Chen and her research team at Fu Jen Catholic University, and the "International Accreditation Center for Health Promoting Schools" was established.
With reference to the WHO's guidelines: "Development of Health Promoting Schools – A Framework for Action," which were updated in 2009, we set up an expert working group on health promoting school accreditation and completed the development of accreditation indicators. Next, we invited five international experts and researchers on health promoting schools to serve as international accreditation committee members. After a pilot evaluation, we jointly developed the accreditation standards and mechanism for health promoting schools in Taiwan, including six standards (i.e. healthy school policy, school physical environment, school social environment, healthy living skills teaching and action, community relationships, and health services) and 63 assessment items.
2012 First international accreditation
A total of 293 schools applied for the first international accreditation, and 214 schools participated. 4 schools were selected for the Gold Award, 14 for the Silver Award, and 120 for the Bronze Award, and the first International Accreditation Ceremony for Health Promoting Schools was held that year to recognize all the schools that received the awards.
2013 Simplifying accreditation requirements and process
After the first international accreditation, we found that the evaluation mechanism was in need of revision, including item discrimination and the validity and reliability of the accreditation standards, and that the accreditation process was cumbersome. Therefore, we conducted expert meetings, expert validity analysis, in-depth interviews with award-winning schools, questionnaire surveys for validity and reliability checks, as well as discussions with the international accreditation committee. The number of accreditation assessment items was then streamlined from 63 to 47, while maintaining a full score of 100 points. We also decided to conduct on-site visits to Bronze Award candidate schools to increase the credibility of the accreditation review.
2014 Second international accreditation
A total of 238 schools applied for the second accreditation, and 182 schools participated. 5 schools were selected for the Gold Award, 20 for the Silver Award, 31 for the Bronze Award, and 41 for the Proof of Participation Award. The second award ceremony was held that year to recognize the winners.
2015 Adjusting accreditation rating and process
During the second international accreditation process, feedback from both expert meetings as well as schools and local government units found that there were still some areas of the existing accreditation standards and process that deserved further revision. In order to improve the accreditation system, we revised the accreditation standards and process, and strengthened the accuracy and consistency of committee rating in the accreditation process.
2016 Third international accreditation
A total of 119 schools applied for the third certification, and 101 schools participated. 4 schools were selected for the Gold Award, 20 for the Silver Award, and 24 for the Bronze Award. The third International Accreditation Ceremony for Health Promoting Schools was held that year to recognize all the schools that received the awards.
2017 Effective practices in accreditation and reducing administrative burden
We have identified the specific direction of development of the HPS accreditation system through the three accreditation exercises. In order to facilitate effective practices in accreditation as well as to reduce the administrative burden of local government units, we further revised the accreditation content and process. By developing core standards for international accreditation and participating in international seminars, the international accreditation of health promoting schools in Taiwan will be aligned with global HPS guidelines.
2018 Fourth international accreditation
A total of 121 schools participated in the fourth accreditation, and 5 schools were selected for the Gold Award, 31 for the Silver Award, 23 for the Bronze Award, 18 for the Certificate of Merit, and 10 for the Award of Excellence for Special Topics. The fourth International Accreditation Ceremony for Health Promoting Schools was held that year to recognize all the winners.
2019-Present Advocating the third-generation health promoting schools program; transforming the International Accreditation Center into a Health Promoting School International Network Center
Since 2019, Taiwan has been working hard to connect with the world. Based on the latest global standards for health promoting schools issued by the WHO and UNESCO in September 2020, our program has been using evidence based strategies to revise and develop new monitoring indicators and create incentives to promote HPS, and we proposed preliminary ideas for Health Promoting Schools 3.0 in 2020. At the same time, the Health Promotion International Accreditation Center will be transformed into a "Health Promoting School International Network Center" in 2020.
