Raising the bar on health and care regulation worldwide
Expectations around quality and safety in health and care are constantly evolving, creating ongoing challenges for those tasked with regulating these essential services. While the role of the regulator is crucial, opportunities for academic and professional development have been limited — until now.
The ESHPM Academy, part of Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (Erasmus University Rotterdam), offers a distinctive international programme designed to strengthen regulatory practice in health and care. Participants gain academic insights, practical tools, and a global perspective to help shape regulation that is both strategic and future-focused.
Through a deep dive into diverse sources of regulatory intelligence, you’ll learn to interpret and apply insights effectively, drawing on both scientific theory and real-world experience. The course helps you develop the skills to design impactful regulatory strategies, all within a collaborative international peer environment that supports both personal growth and organisational development.
What will you gain?
By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand the societal role of regulation and its mechanisms of effect;
- Gain deeper insight into the current challenges faced by health and care regulators;
- Be able to interpret and explain these challenges using both practical experiences and scientific theories relevant to regulation;
- Be capable of designing innovative strategies and policies to address these challenges and positively impact the quality of care and user experience;
- Have built an international network of peers to support continued shared learning.
“This course was extremely enriching. It gave me the academic foundation to lead as a regulator and clarified how to focus our efforts where they have the greatest impact.”
— Karin Müller Mikaelsen, County Chief Medical Officer, Norway
Who should attend?
This course is designed for professionals working in organisations responsible for the regulation, inspection, or oversight of health and care services, including:
- Acute care
- Mental health care
- Disability care
- Long-term adult care
- Youth care and child protection
Ideal participants include (senior) inspectors, strategic advisers, policy leads, and those preparing for such roles. Cohorts are limited to a maximum of 30 participants to foster deep exchange and peer learning.
To ensure an open and trusted learning environment, the course is open only to individuals from organisations with a formal regulatory mandate, such as government inspectorates or oversight bodies.
Designed through international collaboration
This programme was developed by the ESHPM Academy, in close partnership with:
- The Care Quality Commission (England)
- The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision
- The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate
This strong international partnership combines academic rigour with real-world regulatory experience, creating a rich learning environment for participants from diverse health and care systems.
Impact and community
Over time the Erasmus International Regulator Course has brought together regulators from around the globe, building a growing international community committed to raising the quality and safety of health and care services worldwide. Participants leave with both new knowledge and long-term professional connections.
“This course gave me new insight into how regulation works internationally. I valued the opportunity to connect with peers and explore our shared mission to improve how we regulate.”
— Joanna Bell, Policy Officer at CQC, England
Course Format and Project Work
The programme combines academic depth with real-world application. It includes:
- Two face-to-face sessions held in Rotterdam: a four-day opening block and a three-day closing block;
- One virtual session held midway through the course;
- A group project, where you apply course concepts to a practical regulatory challenge. The project concludes with a joint presentation during the final face-to-face meeting.
Course dates – 2026 edition
Block | Dates | Format | Location |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 17–20 March 2026 | Face to face | Rotterdam, NL |
2 | 13 May 2026 | Online | Virtual |
3 | 10–12 June 2026 | Face to face | Rotterdam, NL |
Workload & Certificate
The workload outside of the scheduled course blocks is generally light and manageable. Apart from the group assignment that you will present during the final block, there are no additional preparation requirements. Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate from ESHPM Academy, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Course fee
The fee for the 2026 edition is €2,595 per participant. This includes lunch during all in-person days, as well as a welcome dinner and a closing dinner. Travel and accommodation costs are not included.
For questions about payment options or invoicing, please contact: academy@eshpm.eur.nl
Registration and Selection for the 2026 Edition
Registration for the 2026 edition is now open. Please note that the registration deadline is 1 December 2025, and we have a maximum capacity of 30 participants. If the number of applications exceeds available spots, a selection will be made to ensure a diverse group representing various countries and organisations. You will receive confirmation of your participation shortly after the deadline.
If you have any questions about the course or want help determining whether it’s the right fit for your role or organisation, please feel free to contact us at academy@eshpm.eur.nl. We’re happy to discuss your goals and provide more information about the course content and learning approach.
If the 2026 dates don’t fit your schedule, the course will be offered again in spring 2027. You can email us at academy@eshpm.eur.nl to be added to the waiting list and receive updates when the new dates are confirmed.
We look forward to welcoming you to Rotterdam and sharing an inspiring, collaborative learning experience with health and care regulators from around the world.
Stay connected
Follow ESHPM on LinkedIn for the latest course announcements, insights from previous editions, and highlights from our international community.