SFOK16012U Innovating Solutions for Aging Populations

Volume 2017/2018
Content

General introduction to the course

Aging has been coined as one of the major societal challenges. The fact that we simply live longer, is in itself not a problem but rather a triumph. However, this unprecedented demographic change significantly affects individual life histories through an increased number of lifestyle related chronic diseases and cognitive impairments. These extra life years also have a massive imprint on the organization of welfare institutions and the financial sustainability of the welfare system. Thus, aging has for several years been one of the most important research areas from a biomedical, societal and humanistic perspective, prompting not only important new scientific knowledge, but also new ideas, concepts and technologies for innovative solutions of some of the core problems that individuals and societies are confronted with.

The course consists of two parts:

  • A dedicated e-learning course on the Coursera platform with accompanying multiple choice tests. The course is accessible at least six weeks in advance of the on campus course, and have to be completed 30 July 2018 at the latest
  • Two weeks of intensive case work on campus at the University of Copenhagen, from 6 -17 August 2018

 

Objectives & Course Format

The online lectures provides the students with recent knowledge on, and for the purpose relevant, innovation and business theories and methods covering different environments for health innovation for elderly. The e-learning part of the summer school serves as background knowledge for the students to be able to develop innovations to health care related challenges in an elderly population.

On the on-site campus part the acquired knowledge will be applied to selected case-topics and put into practice. In an interdisciplinary setting the students will work intensively on analysis and design of specific innovation challenges, They obtain knowledge on and practical experience with working on an innovation- and a business-case that supports healthy lives and active aging. 

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the participants will gain:

Knowledge:

  • Identify, analyse and explain specific aging related challenges and innovations for citizens.
  • Have knowledge at an introductory level about tools and concepts for business analysis of health care innovations
  • Explain the pros and cons of using technologies to solve healthcare related challenges in an older population.
  • Familiarity with one or more tools for digital design.

 

Skills:

  • Understand the broader trends in demographic, economic and institutional  factors affecting an ageing population.
  • Analyse and assess aging related challenges and innovations for older citizens.
  • Ability to contribute to innovation processes from initial ideas to key examples of analysis and design in the innovation process.

 

Competences:

  • To demonstrate insight in the relationship between single healthcare innovation and their social and institutional context.
  • To prioritize and  between possibilities for innovating better healthcare solutions for older people.
  • To design a coherent set of innovation features and to analyse their medical and commercial qualities.
  • To present an innovation in a short,  convincing pitch directed at a business audience.
  • To be a valuable collaborator by being aware of the different competences that are brought into an interdisciplinary setting.
Completed BSc degree
Students who have obtained a bachelor degree from any discipline, have interests in aging research, healthcare, welfare technology or innovation, and have good English skills are welcome to apply for this course.
Active participation in the e-learning module is a prerequisite for on-campus
participation. During the e-learning-part of the course, participants will get
familiar with the field of aging, innovation and business through theory and
reading material, exercises and practical examples.

Between the e-learning-part and on campus, students are expected to prepare for the on-campus-part by reading further relevant material, provided by UCPH and CBS.

On-campus learning is characterized by short introductions and
discussions the first couple of days. Afterwards the participants will work in
groups on specific innovatio projects, where the theory and acquired methods will be applied. At the end of the course, the groups will present their project in
plenum and write a report about their findings and innovative solutions.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • E-Learning
  • 60
  • Exam
  • 46
  • Excursions
  • 6
  • Preparation
  • 20
  • Project work
  • 74
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Course participation
Written examination
Details:
- Active participation: 80% attendance and an oral group presentation (pitch on the last day of the course).

- The students submit their reports (based on their projects) the day before the oral presentation (pitch).
- The students present a pitch on their group projects in plenum. Another group offers comments and suggestions for each pitch.
- The reports are assessed by the course responsible, and the students receive their mark pass/fail ASAP after the course has ended.

The outline of the report is handed out at the beginning of the course. The written reports reflect the group work but is handed in individually.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

The report must be submitted on the day before the pitch (16 August).

Re-exam

Hand in a new version of the report.

Criteria for exam assesment

Knowledge:

  • To identify, analyse and explain specific aging related challenges and innovations for citizens.
  • To master at an introductory level tools and concepts for business analysis of health care innovations.
  • To explain the pros and cons of using technologies to solve healthcare related challenges in an elderly population.

 

Skills:

  • To understand the broader trends in demographic, economic and institutional factors affecting an ageing population.
  • To analyse and assess aging related challenges and innovations for older citizens.
  • To contribute to innovation processes from initial ideas to key examples of analysis and design in the innovation process.

 

Competences:

  • To demonstrate insight in the relationship between single healthcare innovation and their social and institutional context.
  • To prioritize and between possibilities for innovating better healthcare solutions for older people.
  • To design a coherent set of innovation features and to analyse their medical and commercial qualities.