SGLK20004U Country Exposure

Volume 2020/2021
Education

MSc Programme in Global Health - compulsory

Content

The Country Exposure course provides an opportunity to study health-related challenges, interventions and policies of a host society and to be associated to local researchers and organizations in the proces. The course enables students to gain a solid understanding of the health care system and central health-related institutions in the host country through literature, teachings, visits to health care institutions and dialogue with local professionals.  

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, anchored at host 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. 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.

In the cross-disciplinary teams, the students will develop a research proposal, including a stakeholder analysis. Based on a predefined global health theme, each team will together with and under supervision from their local supervisor, identify a locally important topic and develop a research proposal for an empirical study.

During the course, each student will also develop a reflection 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 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. historical -, economic-, and polical factors of the country and local healing traditions
  • Describe and discuss equity and social justice-related challenges in health care, including gender-related norms and disadvantages
  • Demonstrate an understanding of different types of country or systems analysis, e.g. "Country-wiki" development and stakeholder analysis
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of effective team work

 

Skills:

  • Search and review relevant scientific literature for a given health related topic
  • Apply selected analytical models and theoretical approaches to explore and understand national/​local health-related challenges, institutions and conditions
  • Identify a relevant health-related research question
  • Identify and formulate research objectives
  • Describe and critically discuss appropriate study methodologies (qualitative/​quantitative​)
  • Design an empirical research study incl. choice of data collection and analysis methods
  • Prepare an itemised budget for a proposed research project
  • Present, peer-review and discuss research proposals
  • Discuss and assess skills central to team work process

 

Competences:

  • Discuss limitations and ethical considerations of a research proposal
  • Critically assess and discuss analytical and theoretical approaches to understanding relevant national /local contexts, systems and structures of power and privilege.
  • Engage in the development of an effective team, including good communication and problem-solving within the team
  • Act, interact and collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner
  • Critically reflect on, present and discuss, in a culturally sensitive manner, learning activities and outcomes
Must have passed the courses and exams in Global Health and Diseases: Introduction and Major Challenges SGLK15001U/E and Health Research Methodology SGLK18002U/E or SGLK20001U/E+SGLK20002E
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 placement of students in destination countries:
Students choose a 1st and 2nd priority destination. Should the number of 1st priorities exceed the capacity of a given destination a draw will determine who is placed at their 2nd priority. Capacity may vary in the destinations. Destinations may vary between years. There may be allocated extra slots for MSc in Global Health students should they be delayed in their study plan.

Expenses:
The teaching, supervision and other academic activities taking place as part of the country exposure course – both in Copenhagen and abroad – is covered as part of the programme.
However, students must bear the expenses connected with travel, insurance, vaccinations, food, and lodging for the field trip themselves. These expenses depend on the destination, as the travel to a destination in Europe will be less expensive than going to Africa.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 52
  • Preparation
  • 127,5
  • Project work
  • 42
  • Study Groups
  • 185
  • Guidance
  • 5,5
  • Total
  • 412,0
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
2,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Course participation
Written assignment
Students are required to have a minimum of 80% class attendance during the Pre-departure Course to ensure they are adequately prepared for the country exposure part of the course.
Exam registration requirements

Students are required to have a minimum of 80% class attendance during the Pre-departure Course to ensure they are adequately prepared for the country exposure part of the course. 

Students are also required to develop and present an assignment that outlines central challenges, institution and policies related to the students' chosen theme

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Re-exam

To be decided by the course director

Criteria for exam assesment

Knowledge:

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

Discuss the international and local contextual factors that influence the health care system, e.g. historical -, economic-, and polical factors of the country and local healing traditions

Describe and discuss equity and social justice-related challenges in health care, including gender-related norms and disadvantages

Demonstrate an understanding of different types of country or systems analysis, e.g. "Country-wiki" development, stakeholder analysis, gender analysis

 

Skills:

Search and review relevant scientific literature for a given health related theme

Apply selected analytical models and theoretical approaches to explore and understand national/​local health-related challenges, institutions and conditions

 

Competences:

Critically assess and discuss analytical and theoretical approaches to understanding relevant national /local contexts, systems and structures of power and privilege

Engage in the development of an effective team, including good communication and problem-solving within the team

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

Credit
12,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
The exam document consist of two parts: A group assignment (a research proposal) of max 14.400 key strokes /2400 key strokes per page and an individual assignment (reflection report) of max 12.000 key strokes /2400 keystrokes per page
Exam registration requirements

Passed course participation (pre-departure week (SGLK20004E) as described above.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

See the exam schedule

Re-exam

See the exam schedule

Criteria for exam assesment

To pass the course, the student must submit a research proposal and a reflection report, demonstrating the objectives below.

Knowledge and skills:

  • Identify and formulate a relevant and realistic research problem within global health.
  • Discuss the international and local contextual factors that influence the health care system, e.g. historical -, economic-, and polical factors of the country and local healing traditions
  • Describe and discuss equity and social justice-related challenges in health care, including gender-related norms and disadvantages
  • Identify and formulate relevant objectives.
  • Discuss and assess skills central to team work process

 

Competences:

  • Find, discuss and evaluate relevant scientific literature in relation to the research proposal
  • Choose the appropriate study methods (qualitative/​quantitative literature review)
  • Engage critically with analytical and theoretical approaches to understanding relevant national /local contexts, health challenges, systems and structures of power and privilege
  • Discuss limitations and ethical issues related to the completed field study.

  • Engage in the development of an effective team, including good communication and problemsolving within the team

  • 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