Global perspectives on Digital Health

Content

The contents of the course are:

• Defining digital health, principles and classification
• Opportunities and limitations for digital health in LMICs
• Surveying demand and feasibility of digital health solutions
• Guidance on implementation of digital health interventions
• Digital Health and Health Equity

This course is tropEd accreditated and can be followed as a stand-alone course or as an advanced module of the Master in International Health. The first week can be followed as a stand-alone course, for which we offer an attendance certificate. For the two-weeks programme, we offer a certificate of completion after passing the final assessment.

This course is organised jointly with Amsterdam Health and Technology Institute (AHTI) and in cooperation with a number of other partners: Pharmaccess, Joep Lange Institute, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) and Smarthealth Amsterdam

Objectives

Week 1

At the end of the first week, participants will be able to:

• Explain principles and concepts of digital health, including the effect of digital health on health behaviour and on health systems
• Discuss digital health interventions as means to address health challenges in different settings
• Discuss opportunities and limitations that digital health interventions bring while providing Universal Health Coverage in high, low and middle-income countries
• Recognize and address ethics and health equity data governance issues related to digital health interventions

Week 2

At the end of the first week, participants will be able to:

• Develop strategic problem-solving strategies using digital health to address challenges in the health sector
• Combine technical, analytical and networking skills for developing and embedding digital health interventions in a systemic approach
• Develop and evaluate potential digital tools and strategies in different settings (acknowledging their characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and performance while implemented)

Learning Methods

The course is designed in an innovative model – similar to hackathons and data sprints, often the standard approach to develop technical skills. In the “sprint” methodology, while learning basic concepts, the participant can also acquire and develop applied skills developing projects to address real health problems. We encourage device and corpus literacy, allocating considerable time to course preparation, live tutorials, practical labs and interaction with partners, facilitators and keynote lectures.

We planned different activities to train theoretical knowledge on digital health and have an overview of practical skills needed to conceive, develop, implement, and evaluate digital health interventions.

Using the Active Learning Perspective, the main characteristic of this course is the “hands-on” strategy, allowing the participant to apply during the course the knowledge they are acquiring in real-time.

The first week will cover all the basic aspects and participants will apply the knowledge on a proposed study case.

The workshop nature of the second week is an opportunity to work in challenging real-scenario cases from our course partners.

• Keynotes = lectures on key concepts of the course.
• Meet & Greet = social dynamics where everyone gets to know each other in a fun way to establish rapport and social network.
• Tutorials = practical sessions introducing the participant to a specific technique to apply in their projects.
• Q&A = on the first day, participants will have questions, so this is a moment for a general plenary of comments, questions, clarifications and suggestions.
• Labs = moments when participants have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from keynote and tutorials to work on a practical problem, sharpening strategic thinking for applying DH solutions. The idea is to design a digital health intervention to a real problem.
• Project Pitch = for those attending the second week, we will work on an actual project for the whole week. Project leaders (our personnel) will pitch some projects they want to work on, and participants will choose which team they will join. We expect the proposed projects to be real-life cases KIT and partners are working on and that we have at least 4 participants interested in each project pitched to form a few teams.
• Work Sessions = time of teamwork (participants + project leader) to develop the DHI in the second week.
• Final Presentation = plenary moment when each group presents the project DHI planned to the others and delivers a written proposal according to a previously agreed template.

Week 1 (online)

The first week aims to get the participant acquainted to the basic principles of digital health and possible fields of application

• Online (synchronous, twice a day) keynotes focusing on key concepts of the course;
• Online (synchronous twice a day) practical sessions (tutorials) aimed at introducing specific fields of DH or techniques;
• Access to our online education environment – KIT Virtual Grounds – for asynchronous activities and course materials and resources.

Week 2 (face-to-face in Amsterdam)

The second week include a strong focus on applying the knowledge and skills acquired during week 1.

• Labs and guided work: moments where students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned trying to solve a practical problem of the field with a DHI. Diverse labs will be offered during the week, to challenge your strategic thinking in different themes/fields.
• Work sessions: participants work in groups developing a digital health intervention proposal to address a real-life problem. A presentation is given at the end of the second week with the outline of the project proposal. A written proposal is submitted for examination on Friday afternoon, after considering feedbacks received on the presentation.

Application

We developed the “Global Perspectives on Digital Health”, aiming for mid-career and senior health professionals interested in updating their competencies in the field of digital health. We also aim for professionals who want to include digital health components in the programmes/projects they manage at different healthcare levels (in MoH, NGOs, etc.). Finally, we also expect applications from young professionals interested in adding digital health to their portfolios. We are also betting on intergenerational learning, considering the participants’ broad range of ages and backgrounds.

Admission criteria

• Academic training at least to the level of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, in medicine, public health or another field related to health care, such as health sciences, environmental sciences, economics, biostatistics, social sciences or nursing. Other fields might be considered if motivated on the cover letter.
• Two years of relevant work experience, including work experience in health in low and middle-income settings.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Computer literacy demonstrated by the ability to correctly and independently upload electronic documents in the online application system.
• Motivation for the course, demonstrated by a motivation letter stating why the applicant wants to follow this specific course at KIT and how it aligns to your career plans.

Application procedure

The application package is due two months before the start of the course.

Please upload your application online. The following documents should be uploaded:

• A one-page letter of motivation
• Copies of your diplomas and grade reports
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae and a list of publications if applicable

What we expect from your motivation letter:

Please indicate in your motivation letter why you want to follow this specific course, why you want to follow the course at KIT Amsterdam, what do you expect to learn and how you will apply your newly gained competencies from the course in your work, what kind of benefits will it bring to your future career, etc. Describe a relevant problem you have experienced in the last two years that you would like to discuss during this specific course. Your motivation should be about ½-1 page. Please do not repeat your CV again.

Accommodation

There is a severe shortage of student accommodation in Amsterdam and participants are advised to contact KIT for information. KIT will endeavor to assist participants in their search for housing.

Visa requirements

Citizens of most EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries do not need a visa to enter the Netherlands. Visit the Nuffic website for the latest information on visa requirements.

Participants from other countries must obtain a short-stay visa (for up to three months) through the Netherlands embassy or consulate covering the applicant’s country. Applicants will need a letter of admission to the course and proof of sponsorship or sufficient funds to cover the course fee, travel and accommodation costs. Applicants should take into account that in some countries this procedure can take several months.

European Credit

The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between different institutions of the same academic level. A course comprising 28 hours of formal teaching and private study is equivalent to one EC credit point.

Insurance requirements

Course participants and accompanying dependents are required by Dutch law to have health, accident and third party insurance. Unless their current insurance policy covers their stay abroad, participants must insure themselves and their dependents in the Netherlands. Dutch insurance companies offer reasonable rates to foreign students. KIT can assist with arranging insurance.

Accreditation

This course is also accredited for the Master in International Health programme organised by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.

Funding

The arrangement of financial support to cover all study costs is the responsibility of the applicant. KIT does not offer financial support or scholarships.

Scholarships Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)

Unfortunately the OKP programme has ended. For 2024 there are no scholarship rounds.

• Up-to-date approach to complex public health issues
• Practice-oriented
• Exchange between disciplines
• Interactive Education
• Development of personal and professional competencies
• Network building

• Participants from diverse backgrounds and countries
• Personal tutoring
• Teaching by highly qualified specialists
• Positively reviewed by tropEd
• KIT: international centre of excellence in international health and development
• Accredited by NVAO