A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMMES   FOR MASTER’S DEGREE IN HEALTH SCIENCES

Nguyen Nhu An; Tran Thi Bich Hanh

Nguyen Nhu An	nhuan@hnue.edu.vn	Hanoi National University of Education 136 Xuan Thuy street, Cau Giay ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tran Thi Bich Hanh*	bichhanhtv2001tv@gmail.com	Hanoi National University of Education 136 Xuan Thuy street, Cau Giay ward, Hanoi, Vietnam

Summary:

This paper reports a systematic literature review combined with a basic bibliometric analysis of the included corpus on training development for master’s degree programs in health sciences (2000 -2025). Of the over 200 records retrieved from Google Scholar, SCOPUS, ERIC, and VNU-LIC, 65 were screened by titles and abstracts, and 24 met the full-text inclusion criteria. The findings are organized into four thematic clusters: Program theories and models, from behavioral-objective approaches through outcome-based education and competency-based approaches to the continuous-improvement cycle; the distinctive academic and professional requirements of master’s level programs; master’s-level program development; health sciences program development. The review identifies four structural gaps, the most critical being the absence of an empirically validated, integrated model for developing master’s-level health sciences program that is grounded in competency-based outcomes and adaptable to diverse local practice contexts. An integrated outcome-based education, competency based medical education, plan-do-check-act framework is proposed as a theoretically grounded agenda for subsequent empirical research.

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Keywords:

program development

master’s degree

health sciences

competency-based medical education

systematic review.

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Journal:

No. 9, September 2026

VIETNAM JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

THE VIETNAM NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR MASTER’S DEGREE IN HEALTH SCIENCES