Assessing Digital Competency Gaps in Public Health Curricula: A Global Scoping Review on Integrating AI and Data Literacy into Post-Pandemic Workforce Preparation Frameworks

• Abbas Ahsun

  Texas University

  Author

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical deficiencies in the digital readiness of the public health workforce, particularly in artificial intelligence and data literacy competencies essential for modern epidemiological practice and health surveillance. This global scoping review examines the integration of digital competencies within public health curricula across 89 programs from 24 countries, identifying systematic gaps between workforce requirements and educational provision. Through systematic analysis of competency frameworks and curriculum mapping, the study reveals that only 31.2% of programs offer dedicated modules on AI applications in public health, while 47.8% provide foundational data literacy training. A competency assessment framework was developed and validated using a mixed-methods design incorporating document analysis, expert interviews, and quantitative competency scoring. The findings demonstrate a competency gap of 64.3% between employer-required digital skills and graduate capabilities, with predictive analytics (89.4% employer demand vs. 28.1% curriculum coverage) and AI ethics (76.2% vs. 19.6%) showing the most significant discrepancies. The study concludes that public health education requires urgent pedagogical reform, proposing a tiered competency framework that integrates foundational, intermediate, and advanced digital competencies within existing curricula. Practical implications include actionable recommendations for curriculum designers, institutional leaders, and policymakers to address the identified gaps through blended learning approaches, faculty development, and industry-academic partnerships.

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Copyright (c) 2026 Abbas Ahsun (Author)

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