Advanced Learning Academy launched
To the Harvard Chan School community,
We are excited to announce that the Advanced Learning Academy (ALA), our new innovative, lifelong learning program, launches today. ALA is a new institutional entity and core offering at the School that brings together and expands the School’s non-degree learning opportunities under one umbrella.
The Advanced Learning Academy is led by Rifat Atun, vice dean for non-degree education and innovation and Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership.
Our goal in creating the ALA was to combine our existing Executive and Continuing Education offerings together with the hundreds of independent non-degree programs and courses at the School. It creates an integrated portfolio of non-degree learning with clearer learning pathways, expanded subject areas, and new opportunities for engagement across career stages.
Here are some highlights of the new program:
Broader lifelong learning framework
A structured learning continuum spanning pre-college and university students to early- and mid-career professionals and senior leaders:
- Aspire: Pre-professional learning
- Professional Development: Early-career learning
- Executive Education: Mid-to-senior career learning
- Advanced Leadership: Global and senior executive learning
- Frontiers: Innovation-focused and cross-cutting learning showcasing School’s excellence in research, translation, and innovation
Expanded course portfolio and stackable credentials
- More than 30 new courses in the pipeline, including cutting-edge topics and areas such as longevity science, healthcare innovation, designing for scale in healthcare, building AI solutions to transform healthcare, and crisis leadership. Courses are developed and taught by faculty and contributors across multiple departments, reflecting the School’s interdisciplinary strengths and commitment to high-impact lifelong learning.
- Stackable credentials allow learners to begin with individual courses and build toward broader recognition over time through Certificates of Specialization and Advanced Certificates of Specialization. This model offers flexible entry points and supports continued learning across career stages.
ALA capitalizes on our brand strength and faculty’s excellence in research, teaching, and translation. It positions Harvard Chan School as a leader in innovation-driven, lifelong public health learning and responds to evolving global public health needs.
To learn more, check out the ALA website. Additional coverage can be found here.
Sincerely,
Rifat Atun, MBBS, MBA, FFPH, FRCP
Vice Dean for Non-degree Education and Innovation
Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty