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Human Resources for Health

This course provides knowledge and skills that health care managers, policy makers and planners need for human resource planning and management. It discusses policies, strategies and practices at a national and workplace level to address health workforce issues.

Start
24/03/2025
Duration
2 weeks
Course Period
from 24/03/2025 until 08/04/2025
Location
KIT Amsterdam
EC
3
Language
English

Content

How can policy makers and  managers improve the performance of the health workforce? How does one plan human resources? How can organisational development contribute to the performance of health workers?

The quality of health service delivery depends largely on the availability and performance of qualified personnel, aided by sufficient facilities, equipment and drugs. Policy makers and managers can influence the performance of health workers by using carefully formulated and implemented human resources for health policies and strategies developed in consultation with stakeholders. In order to enhance workforce performance, policy makers and managers also need to be able to analyse organisational culture and behaviour and to identify appropriate leadership skills.

This course addresses the knowledge and skills that policy makers and managers need for human resource planning and management. It provides an overview of the situation of Human Resources for Health (HRH) from a global perspective and subsequently discusses policies, strategies and practices at a national level and at the workplace to address health workforce issues. Topics include rational planning, training, governance and gender, performance retention and motivation and, leadership and organisational change.

Objectives

At the end of the course the participants should be able to:

  • Analyse various issues (such as governance, political economy gender inequalities, fiscal space) related to human resources in the health sector using a health labour market analysis
  • Discuss different strategies to assure sufficient and qualified staff are equitably distributed
  • Analyse organisational behaviour and discuss strategic options and leadership styles for change in a culturally sensitive manner
  • Critically assess training programmes for health workers and provide appropriate recommendations for improvement
  • Critically appraise staff performance, identify performance problems, and recommend appropriate solutions

Course content

The following subjects are covered during the course:

  • Introduction to Human Resources for Health
  • Health labour market analysis
  • Migration, retention, motivation and performance of health workers
  • HRH strategic planning
  • Governance and political economy analysis for HRH
  • Digital health for HRH
  • Gender and rights in HRH policy and practice
  • Training and training needs assessment
  • Personal leadership and organisational change
  • HRH financing and fiscal space analysis

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By attending the course at KIT Institute on Human Resources for Health, now I am being able to manage nearly 73 medical, paramedic and non technical staff in my organization. The knowledge acquired helped me to regularly motivate my staff for working better and achieving best health outcome during the service in rural part of Nepal.
A former master student, Akina Shrestha Akina Shrestha from Nepal Working as Public Health Manager in Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu

Learning methods

This module contains introductory lectures, group exercises, plenary discussions, role play, debate, a journal club and self study.

In all sessions, the focus is on exchanging experiences and putting these experiences in the context of global evidence and conceptual frameworks.

We will use KIT Virtual Grounds (Moodle platform) to exchange materials, provide support and communicate with participants. You should ensure a suitable working device is brought to sessions.

Assessment:

The assessment is summative and will be one oral exam on Human Resources for Health . The exam covers a representation of the subjects taught during the course.

For participants who wish to receive a certificate of completion of the course, including the CET accredited hours, the assessment is required.
TropEd students are required to take the assessment at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to do the assessment, you can receive a certificate of attendance of the course.

More on our learning methods:
https://www.kit.nl/institute/study/general-information/

Application

Apply online now

Admission criteria

  • Academic training or a professional qualification in a relevant field
  • Work experience in a related area, including experience in management or planning in developing countries
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • Computer literacy is essential: we use a virtual learning platform and digital tools in our education and assignments, and the exams are conducted online

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.

This course can be taken on its own, or as specialisation course of the Master of Public Health and Health Equity (MPH-HE)  or the current Master in International Health (MIH) programme.

FAQ Online Application System

Do you have a question about our Online Application System? Then you can find the answer in our FAQ Online Application System:

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Practical information

Location

Classes are held at KIT’s training facilities in Amsterdam.

Accommodation

There is a severe shortage of student accommodation in Amsterdam and participants are advised to contact KIT for information. KIT will endeavour 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 accredited for the Master of Science in Public Health and Health Equity, organised by KIT Institute. It is also accredited by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health. As such it can be followed as independent short course but also as part of the Master in International Health programme from other tropEd Institutes.

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.

Scholarship information

Scholarships Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)

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

Learn more about the OKP

Discounts and Fees

We offer discounts for alumni and groups for this course. See below the discounts and fees the course Human Resources for Health. See for more information about our discounts for groups and other short courses on our exclusive discount page.

Regular course fee€1.980,-Start date: 24-03-2025
Early Bird fee€1.584,-if paid 3 months before the start of the course
Alumni discount€1.584,-
tropEd discount€1.782,-
Although I am a health manager by profession for many years, during this module I learned the importance of knowing different cultures within organisations. Also the different beliefs of employees with diverse backgrounds are really important. In Africa this module helped me a lot to overcome issues with colleagues.
A former master student, Fried Lammerink Fried Lammerink from the Netherlands

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Ready to apply for this course?

Why Study at KIT Institute?

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  • 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

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New Course Brochure 2025

Welcome to KIT Institute, where tradition meets innovation in global health education. Our new Master of Public Health and Health Equity programs and short courses equip professionals to tackle health challenges and disparities. Join our vibrant community in Amsterdam and help advance health equity worldwide.

Interested? Find your ideal course in our new brochure.

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