Outline

Overview

This unit examines theoretical and practical issues confronting global health professionals and practitioners, especially in low-resource settings. It provides students with opportunities to apply their disciplinary expertise in the interdisciplinary, international health setting. The unit takes interdisciplinary approach to introduce students to: a) historical, political and economic forces that influence the health of populations around the world and contribute to international health inequities; b) global health crises (emerging infectious disease, chronic disease and disability) facing both developed and developing countries and their impact; and, c) international health practices, including key actors and initiatives, as well as challenges and strategies for working in cross-cultural contexts. The unit provides students with an understanding of health determinants and interventions in international contexts, with a particular emphasis on low-resource settings. Examples of topics covered include health, poverty and inequality, foreign aid and development assistance, globalisation, technology and health. The unit also provides an introductory overview of contemporary international health challenges such as food security, humanitarian crises and climate change. Students will undertake individual and group work to study global health from multiple disciplinary perspectives; they will investigate an in-depth study of a global health issue, exploring the context in which it emerged and the forces that propel it, and advocate for actions to improve the issue in a specific local context and population group.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Health Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	48 credit points of units
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BACH3128
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Zakia Hossain, zakia.hossain@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Johanne Brady, johanne.brady@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Tutorial attendence and Presentation Oral presentation and written reflection	20%	Multiple weeks	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Online Activities- A: Blog post Blog post	20%	Week 06	750 words
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Online activities- B: Quizes MCQ Quizes	15%	Week 08	60 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Briefing paper Briefing paper: written task. Group work: 4-5 students work together	45%	Week 10	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Online Activities (Total 35%)
- Activity A: Blog post (20%): Students are required to produce a blog entry which reflects the creative approach that is typical of the medium by using catchy titles and making them as visually appealing as possible to attract and retain the interest of other students, due in week 6.
- Activity B: MCQ quizzes (15%): Online assessment based on topics covered in weeks 1-7 due in week 8.
Briefing paper (45%): In groups of 4-5, students will prepare a briefing paper with recommendations for selected target audiences. Students will choose the context based on the research carried out on a global health problem; infectious disease including Covid-19 or a chronic disease, or emerging health problem. The briefing paper should provide a critical review of existing strategies and recommend steps to address the problem, due in week 10.
Tutorial attendance and Presentation (20%): In groups of 4-5, students will work together towards a presentation. Individually, students will reflect on how knowledge from their own discipline, and other students’ disciplines, helped them to provide solutions to the health problem. Due in weeks 11-12.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

“all assessments must be submitted in order to be eligible to pass the unit otherwise an AF (Absent Fail) grade will be awarded.”

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Unless an application for special consideration or special arrangement has been approved, students must submit all assessment for a unit of study on the due date specified in the unit of study outline. If the assessment is completed or submitted within an approved period of extension by way of an approved special consideration application, academic plan adjustment or informal simple extension (approved in writing), no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment. If an assessment is submitted after the due date (or extended due date as described above), the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows: Written work submitted electronically after 11.59 pm on the due date will be considered to have been submitted late. For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction to the unit of study, the course, teaching staff, teaching style and philosophy, academic expectations and assessment tasks; 2. Introduces global health	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	1. Theory of demographic; 2. Epidemiological transition; 3. Examine impacts of population change on health and health care delivery in both developed and developing countries	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	1. Introduction; 2. Key concepts; 3. Global health	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Explores global patterns of health and disease, focusing on inequalities between ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries and regions, and the double burden of disease experienced by the world’s poorest populations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	1. Changing disease patterns: theoretical perspectives; 2. Introduction to blog and briefing paper; 3. Form groups and discuss topics	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	1. Examines the nexus between health, poverty and inequality; 2. Why, with considerable variation, rich countries and communities tend to have significantly better health outcomes than poor ones	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	1. Global pattern of health and disease; 2. Double burden of disease	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Explores the health implications of globalisation and trade, focusing on the primacy of economic growth over social justice and human rights, and the rise of the ‘alter’ globalisation movement	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Poverty, inequality and health 2. Group formation and topic selection for the presentation	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Covers population displacement, drivers and health impacts of humanitarian crises, state obligations under international humanitarian law, disaster response law, and program issues in crisis contexts	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	1. Globalisation and trade; 2. Briefing paper discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Traces the historical origins and changing approaches to international development, and debates about the potential of foreign aid to reduce poverty and ensure essential basic healthcare for all	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	1. Population displacement, health impacts of humanitarian crises; 2. Group work on briefing paper and presentation	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Explores the impact of culture on international health and development thinking, particularly as it relates to health practices and the delivery of community health programs	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Development assistance and impacts	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Explores the implications of climate change for health and well being in developing contexts, and institutional frameworks to support poor and vulnerable populations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Culture, health and illness	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Examines challenges experienced by people with disabilities in developing contexts, and the aims and prospects of community-based rehabilitation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	1. Climate change and health; 2. Group presentation discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Introduces the concept of food security, contributors to and consequences of food insecurity, and efforts to ensure food security in specific contexts	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Tutorial Group work Presentation discussion and individual reflections	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Examine the implications of advancement in the technology and telemedicine in the delivery of health and health care, understanding the implications in both developed and developing countries	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Presentations (with slides and individual reflections)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Open discussion and feedback about the unit of study, and peer-review of briefing paper assignment	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Presentations (with slides and individual reflections)	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

This unit will be delivered fully online in Semester 2, 2020.

Lectures will be delivered live via Zoom from weeks 1-13, 2 hours per week, on Friday from 12-2pm. Lecture recordings will be uploaded in the canvas site following the live lecture.

Tutorials will run through Zoom from Weeks 2-13, on Friday from 2-3pm, 3-4pm. Please attend only the tutorial you have enrolled in.

Students must attend 90% of scheduled tutorials. Attendance will be recorded through Zoom tutorial session. Students unable to attend the tutorial must advise their tutor in advance or apply for special consideration to avoid being penalised for their absence. 0.5 marks will be deducted from the overall course mark for each missed tutorial.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Required readings:

Birn, A. E., Pillay, Y., & Holtz, H. (2009). Textbook of international health: Global health in a dynamic world (3rd ed.).Cambridge: Oxford University Press. Available from:

https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/26081/external_tools/476

Benatar, S., Brock, G. (Eds.). (2011) Global health and global health ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available from:

https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/26081/external_tools/476

You will need to supplement the required readings with further reading, especially when completing assignments. A list of recommended readings will be provided on the unit website for students wishing to follow up on weekly topics in more detail.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand the global burden of disease and its impact; identify the health priorities in both developed and developing countries, the multiple approaches that exist to meet these priorities, and factors that shape the development of these approaches
LO2. recognise the impact of structural inequalities in the global social and political economy on population health and wellbeing
LO3. better understand the contemporary issues including global health challenges, global mobility, humanitarian crisis, food security/insecurity and climate change
LO4. appreciate the significance and limitations of development assistance and humanitarian aid to protect and improve the lives of the world’s sick and poor
LO5. analyse international health data and development priorities, and interventions spanning multiple disciplines that exist to meet those priorities
LO6. understand the importance of local context and participation in the formulation of policies and programs to improve population health
LO7. work individually and in interdisciplinary groups to investigate and provide insights into problem solving for complex global health challenges
LO8. reflect on and demonstrate an understanding of disciplinary assumptions, methodologies and foundational knowledge that contribute to solving problems in local and international health contexts.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Based on Unit of study survey weightings of the Briefing paper has been reduced to 45% from 50%.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

HSBH3009: International Health

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect