Title:	Impact Evaluations for Health Systems Strengthening (IE-HSS)
Keywords:	Qualitative methods Health Policy Health impact assessment Quantitative methods
Country:	Netherlands
Institution:	The Netherlands - Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam
Course coordinator:	Mirjam Bakker
Date start:	2025-05-12
Date end:	2025-05-27
About duration and dates:	Duration is 2,5 weeks. Application deadline is 2 months before the start date of the course. If space is available and no visa required, students can apply until 4 weeks prior to the first course day.
Classification:	advanced optional
Mode of delivery:	Face to face
Course location: KIT Institute PO Box 95001, 1090 HA Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31-20-5688256 Website: www.kit.nl
ECTS credit points:	3 ECTS credits
SIT: 84 SIT, 27 contact hours (including the examination), 57 self-study hours
Language:	English
Description: At the end of this course participants will be able to: ● Critically analyse how multiple stakeholder needs in the health system influence the design of an evaluation strategy, as well as participation and decision-making ● Compare and discuss the ethics and fundamental concepts that underpin evaluations of health programs within health systems ● Appraise new and innovative approaches to evaluations (ranging from counterfactual to theory-based evaluations) and identify the most appropriate approach in a given situation ● Make recommendations for programs and policies that contribute to strengthening health systems, based on triangulation and appraisal of quantitative and qualitative evidence
Assessment Procedures: The assessment will consist of a 3 hr written examination in which students will have to use recent evidence from an impact evaluation (real publication) to review and update an existing policy brief of a health problem in a fictitious country. Students will be given a set of guiding questions to improve the different sections of the policy brief. The evidence from the impact evaluations will be shared with students before the examination. The 3 hrs are for reading the policy brief and answering the guiding questions. The exam is marked and marks are shared with students no later than 15 working days after the exam. This is followed by a plenary feedback session during which the exam questions and the answers are presented. The exam requires a pass (6.0). If they fail mark below 6), students are entitled to do a re-sit of this assessment on a preset date within 6 weeks after the results are released. Students get explanations and practice opportunities in class during the course (i.e., journal club) to prepare them for the examination.
Content: ● Theory of Change, impact, causality ● Primary data and secondary data analyses (health monitoring and information systems, population health surveys) ● Counterfactual evaluations, theory-based evaluations, mixed-methods evaluations, program evaluations ● Triangulation of evidence to inform existing programs and policies ● Ethics and conflict of interest ● Policy briefs and their evidence base ● Targeted recommendations based upon evaluation findings
Methods: Learning methods are varied and include interactive lectures (21 hours), critical reading of scientific (impact evaluation) papers (facilitated journal clubs) (3 hours), and self-study time 57 hrs, writing of the examination (3 hours). Interactive lectures are typically 2-3 hrs, starting with introduction of key concepts after which there are activities to apply the concepts, discuss perspectives with fellow participants
Prerequisites: ● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic training in either medicine or another field related to health care, such as health sciences, health economics, social sciences, or nursing ● A minimum of three years of health-related work experience in health systems, not limited to (organisation of) individual patient care ● English proficiency at the level of TOEFL 5.5 or IELTS 6.5 (certificate is not required) ● Computer and internet literacy; the participant should be able to use a computer access to wifi networks, and working-level understanding of Microsoft Office software (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe (PDF). Students will be introduced to the e-learning platform.
Attendance: minimum number of students 12, maximum number of students 25
Selection: First come, first served
Fees: € 1,980 (tropEd € 1,782) € 1,584 (early bird when you pay more than 3 months before the course starts.)
Scholarships: There are no current specific scholarships for this course, for latest updates see
tropEd accreditation: Accredited in EC telco in July 2024. This accreditation is valid until July 2029
Email Address:	m.bakker@kit.nl
Date Of Record Creation:	2024-07-19 03:21:43 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2024-07-19 08:32:46 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2024-07-19 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2024-07-19 08:32:46 (W3C-DTF)