On 28 August 2026, Empower School of Health and UNITAR celebrated a milestone that reached far beyond the graduation stage. The Graduation Ceremony 2026 brought together more than 100 participants in Geneva and virtually, representing 45 countries and 90+ organisations across public institutions, multilateral agencies, humanitarian organisations, academia, regulatory settings and industry.
It was a hybrid ceremony hosted at UNITAR in Geneva, and a clear picture of what a professionally diverse, internationally connected learner community looks like when it comes together around one shared goal: stronger health systems.
Graduation 2026 at a Glance
The scale and reach of this year’s cohort say a lot about the demand for practical global health education.
Who Graduated: The 2026 Global Cohort Profile
The 2026 graduating class was a genuinely mixed group, spanning career stages and professional backgrounds.
Age Distribution of Graduates
Most graduates are experienced, mid-career professionals. The 40–49 age band is the largest group at 41.9%, followed closely by those aged 30–39 at 36.6%.
Gender Profile
90+ Organisations, One Learning Community
The 2026 cohort included professionals from more than 90 organisations, spanning public institutions, multilateral agencies, humanitarian actors, academia, regulatory settings and industry. Selected organisations represented include:
What the Learning Enabled: From Knowledge to Practice
Graduates describe a clear shift from knowing to doing. Across the programmes, four areas of growth stood out.
Graduate Voices: Two Perspectives from the 2026 Cohort
Behind the numbers are individual professionals working on the front line of medicine access and supply. Here is how two graduates describe their experience.
My learning experience with Empower School of Health was truly transformative. The MSc in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management sharpened my ability to address complex supply chain challenges and inspired me to drive meaningful changes in ensuring equitable access to essential medicines. I graduate with confidence, purpose, and a renewed commitment.
My learning experience with Empower School of Health was transformative for my career. The PGD in Data Management provided practical insights into structured inventory controls and data-driven decision-making. The program has significantly enhanced my professional confidence and equipped me with the technical tools needed to streamline warehouse operations and prevent critical supply disruptions.
Impact in Practice: Apply, Lead, Improve
Graduates describe the change in three words, and each one points back to the workplace.
The Class of 2026: A Network That Outlasts the Ceremony
The breadth of countries and organisations represented creates a learning network that extends well beyond graduation. It links public institutions, global agencies, humanitarian organisations and industry through a shared focus on stronger health systems.
Global learning, practical application, professional confidence and health-system impact: these are the themes that defined the Graduation Ceremony 2026, and they are the ones Empower School of Health and UNITAR will keep building on.
Join the Next Cohort
Inspired by the Class of 2026? Explore Empower School of Health’s programmes take your next step toward stronger health systems.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Health
- Post Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Management
- Post Graduate Diploma in Data Management in Public Health Procurement and Supply Chain
- Post Graduate Diploma in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management
- Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Management with Specialization in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Master of Science in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management