SGLK15005U Field Work, Global Health

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MSc Programme in Global Health - compulsory

Content

The field work course provides a first-hand experience of health care systems and health-related challenges as well as health institutions and educational systems in low- or middle income societies. The course builds on central knowledge, skills and competencies obtained in the four preceding courses of the Global Health Programme (Block 1 and 2).

The course consists of two parts: a short introductory part at the University of Copenhagen and the international exposure part (field work) at Universities abroad. During the introductory part, the students will establish cross-disciplinary teams that will work together throughout the course, develop country profiles on their country of destination, and otherwise prepare themselves academically for the departure to their destination.

For the international exposure part, the students will visit a host university in a low- or middle income society to study the health care system, health-related challenges and interventions and policies of that society. Academic staff at the host-university and guest lecturers will teach and supervise the students. Staff from the University of Copenhagen will accompany the students for the major part of the visit to support and supervise learning activities. The students will visit a number of institutions and field sites to gain an understanding of the structure and processes of the health system as well as the health related challenges, interventions and policies.

In the cross-disciplinary teams, the students will develop a research proposal, including a stakeholder analysis, based on pre-defined health-related topics. Each team will receive support from a local academic staff with research experience on the given topic.

During the course, each student will also develop a field report that outlines individual reflections on experiences and learning activities during the entire course. Central to the report are also reflections on the team-work process (communication, feedback and problem solving, effectiveness, member roles and team cohesiveness). The field report should document the work process reflected in the objectives listed below.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Display an understanding of health-related challenges, interventions and policies in the host country

  • Present a solid understanding of the health system and central health-related institutions in the host country

  • Discuss the international and local contextual factors that influence the health care system, e.g. history of the country

  • Describe and discuss equity-related challenges in health care

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of effective team work

Skills:

  • Search, review and evaluate relevant scientific literature for a given health related topic

  • Complete a stakeholder analysis

  • Identify a relevant health-related research question

  • Identify and formulate research objectives

  • Describe and critically discuss appropriate study methods (qualitative/​​quantitative/​​ literature review)

  • Describe the sampling/participant selection incl. criteria for participant inclusion and exclusion and the ways in which participants will be identified

  • Design a budget for a proposed research project

  • Present, peer-review and discuss research proposals

 

Competences:

  • Discuss limitations and ethical issues of a research proposal

  • Apply and assess skills central to a team work process

  • Act, interact and collaborate in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner

  • Critically reflect on, present and discuss, in a culturally sensitive manner, learning activities and outcomes
Passed exams in at least 22.5 ECTS credits of the mandatory exams.
The teaching methods will include a combination of formal lectures, class and team exercises, field visits, problem-based learning, peer-review and feedback.
Principles for allocation of slots in each destination:
Students choose 1st and 2nd priority of destinations. If more students choose one of the destinations than allocated slots, a draw determines where each student is going for the field trip. Capacity may vary in the destinations.
Destinations may vary due to schedueling or other issues. There may be allocated extra slots for MSc in Global Health students should they be delayed in their study plan.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Field Work
  • 185
  • Lectures
  • 52
  • Preparation
  • 138
  • Project work
  • 37
  • Total
  • 412
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
A group assignment (a research proposal) of max 6 pages /2400 keystrokes per page and an individual assignment (field notes) of max 5 pages/2400 keystrokes per page
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/guidance-information/exam-schedule/global-health/

Re-exam

http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/guidance-information/exam-schedule/global-health/

Criteria for exam assesment

To pass the course, the student must hand in a field report, which documents the field work process, including demonstrating the following abilities:

Knowledge and skills:

  • Identify and formulate a relevant and realistic research problem within global health.
  • Identify and formulate relevant objectives.

 

Competences:

  • Find, discuss and evaluate relevant scientific literature in relation to the project
  • Choose the appropriate study methods (qualitative/​quantitative/​ literature review).
  • Discuss limitations and ethical issues related to the completed field study.

  • Apply and assess skills central to a team work process

  • Act, interact and collaborate in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner

  • Critically reflect on, present and discuss, in a culturally sensitive manner, learning activities and outcomes