SGLK15005U Field Work, Global Health - exam only for students who have not passed Field Work exam after 1 September 2018

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Global Health - compulsory

Content

The Field Work course provides an opportunity to study health-related challenges, interventions and policies of a host society from within this society itself. The course enables students to gain a solid understanding of the health care system and central health-related institutions in the host country through 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. history of the country and local healing traditions
  • Describe and discuss equity-related challenges in health care
  • 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 different analytical models and approaches to understand relevant national/local contexts and systems
  • 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 approaches to understanding relevant national /local contexts and systems
  • Engage in the development of an effective team, including good communication and problem-solving within the team
  • Act, interact and collaborate  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
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 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
  • 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 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.
  • 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 project
  • Choose the appropriate study methods (qualitative/​​quantitative literature review)
  • 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