Title:	TropEd Core Course in Global Public Health
Country:	Sweden
Institution:	Sweden - Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University
Course coordinator:	Dr. Marie Lindkvist
Date start:	2024-09-02
Date end:	2025-02-09
About duration and dates:	The course runs for 21 weeks with a break for the holiday season. Application deadline 2024-01-15
Classification:	core course
Mode of delivery:	Face to face
Course location: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå
ECTS credit points:	35
SIT: 875 SIT in total 42 SIT / week 25 SIT / ECTS 370 contact hours (42% of the total SIT’s)
Language:	English
Description: Core courses introduce students to the fundamentals of international health as stated in the following aims. By the end of the core course students should be able to ● Critically reflect on the collection, analysis, and appraisal of qualitative and quantitative data relevant for the improvement of health and health care equity. ● Identify and analyse interrelated determinants of health and major health concerns of populations in a trans-disciplinary perspective in low- and middle-income settings and on global level. ● Propose sustainable improvements to health systems that will address inequities while considering diverse intercultural settings as well as social, legal and ethical responsibilities. ● Describe the role, decision-making process, and impact of global health policy actors. ● collaborate and clearly communicate in a multi-disciplinary a multi-cultural setting. Learning objectives related to the tropEd aim, “Critically reflect on the collection, analysis, and appraisal of qualitative and quantitative data relevant for the improvement of health and health care equity”. By the end of the core course students should be able to: ● Comprehend and clarify the role of statistical terminology and the importance of statistics within scientific methodology ● Recognize different structures of data and understand statistical inference. ● Determine which statistical analysis method is suitable for different kind of data ● Perform suitable statistical analyses in regard to comparisons of groups and dependencies between variables as well as interpretation of results from these analyses ● Explain, assess, and discuss basic concepts and theory within epidemiology, such as causality, bias, confounding and effect modification ● Assess and discuss strengths and weaknesses of different epidemiological study designs and methods for data collection ● Conduct calculations and interpretations of measures of disease frequency, effect, confounding, and effect modification independently ● Apply and interpret epidemiological data analysis to address research questions ● Critically assess and synthesize epidemiological research ● Communicate epidemiological and statistical results in academic writing ● Use of software for statistical and epidemiological analysis ● Compare, assess and evaluate statistical and epidemiological methods to approach problems within research and practice, and in this context identify and handle sources of bias and confounding ● Demonstrate understanding of the theoretical origins of qualitative research ● Demonstrate understanding of different qualitative research designs and their relation to data collection methods ● Demonstrate understanding of the ethical issues of conducting qualitative research in the field ● Be able to conduct qualitative research interviews, focus group discussions and observations ● Be able to code transcribed interviews and to conduct descriptive analysis of them ● Demonstrate insight in ethical, philosophical, and societal aspects of different research methods, as well as their possibilities and limitations in scientific research Learning objectives related to the tropEd aim, “Identify and analyse interrelated determinants of health and major health concerns of populations in a trans-disciplinary perspective in low- and middle-income settings and on global level”. By the end of the core course students should be able to: ● Describe the current demographic and epidemiological patterns of human health globally ● Define key concepts such as globalization, health policy, global public goods, and global health governance ● Cite a range of examples of global issues in terms of their impacts on human health ● Identify and understand the principal social determinants of health in a global perspective ● Explore how the actors, context, processes, and content of health policy are changing as a result of globalisation Learning objectives related to the tropEd aim, “Propose sustainable improvements of health systems addressing inequities and considering diverse intercultural settings as well as social, legal and ethical responsibilities ”. By the end of the core course students should be able to: ● Explain and discuss basic functions and organization of health systems ● Compare different health systems, identify problems, and propose improvements. ● Explain basic concepts in economic theory relevant to an analysis of health systems functioning ● Critically analyse, with the help of economic theory, rights based philosophy and social theory, issues related to financing, production, and organization of health systems ● Identify and analyse problems in different healthcare systems based on the features of these systems (such as leadership and governance, resources, information, human resources, finance - as well as health service delivery) in relation to the system output and system goals Learning objectives related to the tropEd aim, “Describe the role decision-making process, and impact of global health policy actors.”. By the end of the core course students should be able to: ● Describe the main challenges for responding effectively to global health challenges through improved global health governance and effective health policies ● Analyse how ethics and moral philosophical issues concerning people's right to health care relate to the principles that govern the healthcare structure and function in different countries ● Conduct a basic stakeholder analysis ● Describe the main organisations and actors that formulate global health policies at regional and global level ● Critically review public health interventions and the importance of context for implementation and outcomes in both developed and developing countries Learning objectives related to the tropEd aim, “Collaborate and clearly communicate in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural setting”. By the end of the core course students should be able to: ● In collaboration with others in a multi-cultural setting, compare different health systems, identify problems, propose improvements, discuss, and report those improvements. ● Critically evaluate and communicate the application of statistical, epidemiological, and qualitative methodology in public health related articles in a multi-disciplinary setting ● In a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary setting, develop strategies for integrating sources, present and deliver key messages, and provide feedback. ● Apply knowledge, transferable skills, and academic literacy skills in the field of Global Public Health
Focus or specific features: The educational environment is grounded in three core principles: ● Everyone has the right to health and healthcare, ● Health is embedded in society, environment and shaped by history, ● Inequities threaten global public health. We use the core principles together with a pedagogical vision and didactic strategies as a base for this core course (see also section 17). The course is for 35 ECTS and runs over 21 weeks. A large part of the course (20 ECTS) consists of research methods (statistics, epidemiology, and qualitative methods). Theoretical parts of the course focuses on determinants for population health. The concept of health systems as a social determinant for health and the necessity to strengthen health systems to address inequality is crucial for the view on global health in the course. The combination of rapid socio-economic, demographic, and global environmental changes requires knowledge in a broad conception of determinants for global health. The course also gives focus on how actors, context, processes, and content of health policy are changing as a result of globalisation. This core course consists of 5 modules running in sequence: Global Public Health (10 ECTS) Biostatistics (5 ECTS) Epidemiology (10 ECTS) Qualitative methodology (5 ECTS) Health systems, organization, and financing (5 ECTS)
Assessment Procedures: General ● Each module will assess the acquisition of its specific learning outcomes in terms of knowledge and competences and all modules have both an assessment consisting of an individual or group written assignment or an oral presentation (see more details below for every module) and a written examination in a formal hall. ● All written assignments or oral presentations have the grading scale Fail or Pass. See appendix for Rubrics used. If a student receives a grade Fail, the student will need to resit the written assignment or oral presentation within the timeline decided by the examiner and even if this is not completed, the student can perform the written examination. ● The examination halls are located in specific buildings with special staff and ID is required for the students. All examinations are of 6 hours length without internet and students can bring food. ● All examinations have the grading scale Fail, Pass or Pass with distinction. The grade Pass is given for 50% of the total points on the examination, the grade Pass with distinction is given for 80% of the total points on the examination. A same format resit option is available within 2 months, and a third resit option is available at the end of the spring term. Grades for resit examinations are not capped. ● In order to be awarded the grade Pass for an entire module it is required that both the assessment and the written examination are awarded the grade Pass. ● In order to be awarded the grade Pass with distinction for an entire module it is required that the assessment is awarded the grade Pass and the written examination is awarded the grade Pass with distinction. ● Grades and feedback are available within 15 working days after the assessment/examination. ● There is no formal overall grade for the five Core course modules. However, if needed, an overall grade can be given as a certificate and is calculated as follows: - The grade Pass with distinction is given if 20 or more (of the total 35) credits have been awarded the grade Pass with distinction. - The grade Pass is given if 20 or more (of the total 35) credits have been awarded the grade Pass. To further support the translation of grades, the ECTS Grading Table is used at Umeå University. For more information, see hhtps://www.umu.se/en/education/study-system/ Specific details for each module: Global Public Health: Assessment - Compulsory group work (5-6 students) with a project regarding comparison of the public health situation in two different countries. Concentration should be on a specific global health issue (e.g., child health, violence, HIV/AIDS, etc.). The comparison should include both a descriptive part and an analytic one (trying to explain the differences in terms of e.g., economic and political situation, population structure, geographical and historical conditions, etc.) Oral presentation (15 minutes) of each group where all participants need to contribute. Each participant also needs to ask at least one question to other groups' presentations . Examination - 6 hours closed book examination with open ended questions. Biostatistics: Assessment -An individually performed computer exercise using the free software R including t-tests, chi-square tests and linear regression. Submission should be in the form of a written report (2 A4-pages). Examination -6 hours open book examination with both multiple choice and open ended questions. Epidemiology: Assessment -An individually written assignment aimed to critically assess, synthesize and communicate epidemiological research results. The students will read a global health article that uses epidemiological methods with title and abstract deleted. The assignment consists of writing a title (maximum 200 characters) and an abstract (maximum 200 words) for the article. Examination -6 hours closed book examination with both multiple choice questions and open ended questions. Qualitative methodology for public health: Assessment - Compulsory group work (5-6 students) with a project regarding research design and data collection methods. Each group submits a report (1000-1500 words) that shall include a research question and its relevance to global public health, aim, overall research design, data collection methods including ethical considerations, sampling procedures and interview/thematic guide. All participants need to contribute to the report. At the end of the report an authorship statement should be given describing each of the participants’ involvement. Examination -6 hours closed book examination with open ended questions. Health systems: Organisation and financing: Assessment - Compulsory group work (2-3 students) aimed to compare health systems in different countries and relate them to governance. Focus should be on building blocks (service delivery, human resources, financing, medicines, and technology), including the relationship with “leadership and governance”. Students shall develop recommendations based on an understanding of the health system as a whole and how the different components might interact (with focus on the interaction of the building blocks and leadership and governance). Oral presentation (15 minutes) of each group where all participants need to contribute. Each participant also needs to ask at least one question to other groups' presentations. Examination - 6 hours closed book examination with open ended questions.
Content: SIT and ECTS per content category as defined by tropEd ● Introduction and learning skills (0.5 ECTS credits, 10 SIT). ● Concepts, theory, and methods for global health research (quantitative and qualitative) (20 ECTS credits, 500 SIT). ● Global health concerns (e.g., SDGs, health emergencies, communicable and non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health and rights, environmental health, injury), and response strategies (9.5 ECTS credits, 240 SIT). ● Global health policies, health systems, their management, financing and strengthening (5 ECTS credits, 125 SIT).
Methods: The pedagogical vision for this core course takes practical expression in the following didactic strategies, which guide the planning and implementation of the teaching: ● Active learning through a student perspective ● Collaborative learning ● Reflective approach to learning Teaching is conducted through lectures, group exercises, seminars, analysis exercises (both quantitative and qualitative), home assignments, seminars, and discussions. The student active collaborative approach is central. Of the 370 contact hours for this course, approximately 55% is lectures with interactive parts and 45% is totally interactive sessions. The reflective approach is conducted through continuous evaluation (oral every week in class) and a student council that meets the study director regularly. The teaching is concentrated in a way that the students always have approximately one week before each written examination for individual studies.
Prerequisites: A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent higher education degree of a minimumof 180 ECTS from an internationally recognised University, in Public Health, Healthcare, Health education, Pharmacy or a relevant field in Social or Behavioural science. Proficiency in English equal to Swedish upper secondary education B/6. IELT - An overall score of 6.5 and no section below 5.5. TOEFL – Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, total score of 90. For more information see: https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Attendance: Max 50 participants, number of tropEd students is not limited within this group size. Participants are eather studens in our masterprogrammes or students that apply for the 5 modules/courses as single subject courses.
Selection: Priority is given to students with at least two years of work experience within a field relevant to Public Health. Following this, applicants are ranked according to the number of academic credits (ECTS) completed by the last application date.
Fees: 1) There are no application and tuition fees for students who are citizens of countries within the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) or of Switzerland. 2) Students who are not citizens of a country covered by the EEA agreement or Switzerland at the time they apply for studies must pay an application fee of 900 SEK to the university. Those in 2) above who are admitted and start studying at the university must pay tuition fees. The present fees’ are: Global Public Health: 24733 SEK Biostatistics: 12367 SEK Epidemiology: 24733 SEK Qualitative Methodology for Public Health: 12367 SEK Health systems, Organization and Financing: 12367 SEK Total: 86567 SEK
Scholarships: There are some possibilities of scholarships available for non-European students. ● https://www.umu.se/en/education/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships/ ● https://si.se/en/apply/scholarships/
tropEd accreditation: This course was accredited in June GA 2023 in Witten. This accreditation is valid until June 2028.
Remarks: Only 20 ECTS of this core course can be used for tropEd recognition. Keyreadings: * Textbook of Global Health, by Birn AE, Pillay Y, Holtz TH. (4th edition, 2017) * Making Health Policy, by Buse et al. (2nd edition, 2012) * Medical statistics,a textbook for the health sciences by Machin David., Campbell Michael J., Walters Stephen John, (4th edition, 2007) * Concepts of Epidemiology: Integrating the ideas, theories, principles and methods of epidemiology, by Bhopal (2009). * Qualitative methodology for International Public Health by Dahlgren L, Emmelin M, Hällgren Graneheim U, Shalén G, Winkvist A (3rd edition, 2019) * van Olmen J et al. Analysing Health Systems Dynamica. Studies in Health Services Organization and Policy, by van Olmen J et al. (2nd edition, 2012)
Email Address:	marie.lindkvist@umu.se
Date Of Record Creation:	2023-06-20 02:48:54 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2023-06-20 08:13:11 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2023-06-20 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2024-03-22 13:32:04 (W3C-DTF)