SFOK17008U Interdisciplinary Aspects of Healthy Aging

Volume 2020/2021
Education

MSc in Public Health Science - elective summer course

Content

General introduction to the course

As populations age, we need to understand how to ensure life-course processes that enable older adults to live independently in good health, stay engaged in social relationships within families and communities, and uphold social roles important to well-being.

From the molecular basis to the politics determining the societal resource allocations, all aspects of ageing have an inherit concept of sustainability. This include the decision of cells to become senescent to avoid becoming cancer cells, the clinical decision of weighing a life extending treatment against a loss of life quality due to side effects, and the societal decision of when an individual is allowed to depart the labor market.

At this international summer course, you will explore the concept of sustainable ageing through an interdisciplinary lens and combine research results and concepts from the humanities, social sciences, epidemiology, neurology, physiology, public health, and molecular biology. You will be able to identify your most important stake holders and how to reach them through dissemination events, publication strategies and grant applications.
 

Objectives & course format

The primary objective is to gain interdisciplinary knowledge and research experience in the field of aging to better understand how elderly people can preserve their vitality and enjoy a robust older age. We will focus on the concept of sustainable aging throughout the course.

Over three weeks, you will meet engaged and highly skilled researchers and work with ambitious students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and countries. The course provides experience with interdisciplinary work and aging research under the supervision of researchers from Center for Healthy Aging at the University of Copenhagen.

After the course, the participants will gain:

Knowledge:

  • On aging as a complex phenotype that necessitates research integrating concepts from the humanities, social sciences, epidemiology, neurology, physiology, public health, and molecular biology.
  • On defining the necessary methods that can be used to conduct aging research.
  • On the principles for carrying out interdisciplinary aging research.

 

Learning Outcome

After the course, the participants will gain:

Knowledge:

  • On aging as a complex phenotype that necessitates research integrating concepts from the humanities, social sciences, epidemiology, neurology, physiology, public health, and molecular biology.
  • On defining the necessary methods that can be used to conduct aging research.
  • On the principles for carrying out interdisciplinary aging research.

 

Skills:

  • To evaluate and discuss the essential concepts of sustainable aging from an interdisciplinary perspective.
  • To critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of aging research presented in the course.
  • To discuss and evaluate research methods presented.
  • To synthesize and present current knowledge and practical experiences into a research proposal.
  • To transform a research proposal into a grant application.

 

Competences:

  • To independently adapt to a new environment and take responsibility for professional development.
  • To collaborate and effectively communicate with peers from different disciplines.
  • To critically evaluate, to acquire new knowledge, and to reflect on how this can be incorporated into other contexts.
  • To evaluate presentations on research proposals of peers.

 

A number of research articles, which vary from year to year, depending on the researchers contributing to the lectures.

Completed BSc degree.
Students with a keen interest in aging research, and good command of written and spoken English are welcome to apply for this course.
The teaching methods in this course include: Lectures, close supervision in practical projects and interdisciplinary groups, group discussions, and presentations.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 32
  • Excursions
  • 5
  • Project work
  • 60
  • Seminar
  • 10
  • Exam
  • 10
  • Total
  • 137
Oral
Collective
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

Countinous feedback during the course.

Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Course participation
Written examination
- Active participation (80% attendance) in the course incl. an oral group presentation (defense of the research proposal) and critical evaluation of presentations of peers.
- Written grant application, handed in individually.

Active participation in the research projects, the interdisciplinary work and the oral presentation is a prerequisite for writing the report.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

See the exam schedule

Re-exam

See the exam schedule

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to pass the exam, students must be able to:

Knowledge:

  • On aging as a complex phenotype that necessitates research integrating concepts from the humanities, social sciences, epidemiology, neurology, physiology, public health, and molecular biology.
  • On defining the necessary methods that can be used to conduct aging research.
  • On the principles for carrying out interdisciplinary aging research.

 

Skills:

  • To evaluate and discuss the essential concepts of sustainable aging from an interdisciplinary perspective.
  • To critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of aging research presented in the course.
  • To discuss and evaluate research methods presented.
  • To synthesize and present current knowledge and practical experiences into a research proposal.
  • To transform a research proposal into a grant application.

 

Competences:

  • To independently adapt to a new environment and take responsibility for professional development.
  • To collaborate and effectively communicate with peers from different disciplines.
  • To critically evaluate, to acquire new knowledge, and to reflect on how this can be incorporated into other contexts.
  • To evaluate presentations on research proposals of peers.