Strengthening Disrupted Health Systems (E-Learning)

Developing context-specific strategies to strengthen health systems in protracted crises (E-learning)

This e-learning course strengthens your ability to address health system challenges in complex emergencies and fragile states. To prepare you for improving these challenging situations we will analyse health system resilience, policies, politics, roles and strategies of key actors, health equity, the humanitarian development nexus and more. This will enable you to develop context specific strategies for strengthening different elements of disrupted health systems.

This course is tropEd accredited. It can be followed as a stand-alone course or as part of the Master in International Health programme.

Start: 23/09/2024

Duration: 12 weeks in total, of which 9 weeks interactive learning, 1 week working on mid-term assignment and 2 weeks working on final assignment. On average 12,5 hours per week, 150 hours in total.

Course period: from 23/09/2024 until 13/12/2024

Location: Distance-based virtual learning

EC: 5

Language: English

Course fee Early Bird (2024): EUR 2.000 (if paid before 23 June 2024)

Course fee regular (2024): EUR 2.160 (tropEd fee EUR 1.710)

OKP scholarship application (course period 2024): Waiting for confirmation Nuffic/OKP

KIT application deadline OKP (2024): 28 February 2024

KIT regular academic application deadline: 1 August 2024 (number of students: 30, maximum number of TropEd students: 10)

Contact: courses@kit.nl

A picture of two burned out military vehicles

Content

Objectives

At the end of this course participants will be able to:

Explain the nature of protracted crises and their effects on health and health systems

Discuss health systems theory and the role of health systems thinking

Analyse and appraise options to strengthen elements of a health system in a protracted crisis and propose context-specific recommendations to strengthen elements of a health system in a protracted crisis

Critically appraise each other’s work on content and performance, and critically self-reflect student’s own cultural competence, motivation, practice and values working in an international peer-group.

Learning methods

This course is geared towards adult learning and uses participatory approaches as much as possible. A variety of methodologies are used including lectures, discussion, group work, case studies and exercises. Participants will be given reading material in advance and will be required to complete 28 hours of preparatory work. Participants will also be able to discuss topics raised in the daily sessions during optional evening forums. Participants will conduct an in-depth analysis of the health sector in a specific conflict affected country through the study of selected, context specific documents before the course, group work during the course, and a presentation of main findings to colleagues and trainers at the end of the course.

Assessment

Mid-term assignment: a video pitch on a statement related to strengthening disrupted health systems.

End-assignment: a group presentation with a reflection of options on how to address key issues and its consequences in a provided case study of a disrupted health system.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by tropEd. It can be taken as an advanced module for the Master in International Health programme organised by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.

This course can be taken on its own or as part of the Master in International Health (MIH) programme (https://www.kit.nl/health/training/master-international-health/).

Methods

Online learning

This module is an online learning course. The facilitation of the learning experience is conducted through online platforms and tools such as Zoom and a Moodle based virtual learning environment (virtualgrounds.kit.nl), which will contain all learning materials. Interaction between learners and the lecturer will be through e-communication.

The main learning methods employed are:

1. Self-directed learning where students make use of the materials posted on KIT Virtual Grounds to meet the learning objectives of the course.

Learning materials include:

Read materials, downloadable or scanned articles, eBooks

PowerPoint slides with extended notes, or a recorded ‘narrative’

Recorded mini-lectures (voice, image & PowerPoint slides)

Short videos, including recordings of KIT staff, associates or partners on practical examples

Self-assessment quizzes. For students to test their knowledge and understanding of topics covered

Self-reflection on the learning process and theoretic knowledge gained throughout the course will be obtained from the students.

2. Initiating, and responding to, discussion strands on the discussion board. The unit guides include questions for reflection and discussion, in order to guide the directed learning. Students can initiate discussion topics as well. Discussions will be student led. Tutors will monitor the discussions and give feedback on key points. Students can also discuss topics in a chatroom (but will not be required to do so).

Interactions on the discussion board and in a chatroom will enable students to exchange research experiences and insights, ask questions for clarification and give peer feedback. Importantly, these interactions will enable the building of a community of learners; a social community which will significantly enhance the learning experience. Group work plays an important part in this course and each group will have their own private discussion forum that only they (and the tutor) can access and which will be used in the final summative assessment and grading.

3. Giving and receiving constructive peer feedback, in written form or via chat/Skype, on amongst other aspects, formative assignments of other students. Students will be asked to give feedback in written form or through chat/Skype.

4. There will be a weekly 1 hour check-in with the respective facilitator of that week. Students can ask questions about the materials of that week and discuss progress on their case studies.

Application

Admission Criteria

a Bachelor’s degree obtained at an institution of academic higher education in medicine, public health, or another related filed to health care, such as health sciences, economics, social science or nursing. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree obtained at an institution outside the Netherlands may be asked for additional methods to prove that they meet the admission requirements

Two years of relevant work experience in, or relevant, for low- and middle-income settings

Good motivation.

In addition:

Good proficiency in English

Regular access to a computer and the internet (broadband) for the duration of the module

Computer literacy is essential, as we use a virtual learning platform in our education.

Application procedure

The application package for e-learning courses is due 1 month 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. Please do not repeat your CV again.

This course can be taken on its own or as part of the Master in International Health (MIH) programme.

Early Bird registration

Early Bird registration and payment applies when payment is made before 1 July 2023.
Please note that you will receive a response on your application within 4 weeks.

FAQ Online Application System

Do you have a question about our Online Application System? Go to our FAQ Online Application System:

Go to our FAQ Online Application System-page

Practical information

Location

Online distance learning via KIT Virtual Grounds, KIT’s virtual community of professionals in health and international development.

E-learning courses are the perfect solution for those looking to expand their knowledge but unable to study in Amsterdam. They can be followed via internet connection from anywhere in the world.

Funding

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

Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)

For this course and a number of other KIT courses funding from the Orange Knowledge Programme OKP is available for applicants from 30 countries. OKP Country List. See the OKP page for more information. See top of this page for the OKP deadline for this course. Applicants from OKP countries are strongly encouraged to apply for an OKP scholarship.

The OKP application has to be submitted via an online application system from Nuffic. All accepted applicants from OKP eligible countries will receive the link to apply automatically when the application period opens. OKP application period for this course is 8 February – 30 March 2023, 16:00 CET.

Please note that the academic application to the Royal Tropical Institute has to be received at the latest 28 February 2023. You are advised however to apply to KIT as early as possible to be ready when the application period opens.

EC

The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between different institutions of the same academic level. A course comprising 30 hours of formal teaching and private study is equivalent to one ECcredit point.

This course is worth 5 EC.

Accreditation

This course is in process to be accredited by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health. The course can be taken as an advanced module for the Master in International Healthprogramme organised by KIT and other institutes in the tropEd network.