Module manager: Mayeh Omar
Email: m.a.omar@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module will expose post-graduate students to the international health policy environment. They will have the opportunity to visit the World Health organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva and other major international organisations (including the United Nations, UNIAIDS, Global Fund, International Labour Organization (ILO) International Organization for Migration (IOM), Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, International Committee of the Red Cross) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)over five days. Visits will comprise of a combination of lectures, seminars, demonstrations, tours, small group discussion, and individual discussions/interviews. The module will be assessed by a presentation and submission of findings from an assessment of an international health issue/policy. The outline of this project will be discussed and approved by the module leaders before the visit. Two members of staff from the NCIHD (not necessarily the module leaders) will accompany the students on the field trip. The costs related to this module, i.e. travel, accommodation and meals while in Geneva will be the responsibility of the students.
The aim of the module is to enable students to explore the roles of international organisations in the development of policies and programmes for health globally and in particular those in low-income countries. During the week long stay in Geneva, students will be able to:
a- Interact and attend briefing sessions with international actors and experts in the field of health and development;
b- Discuss how international health policies are formulated and disseminated;
c- Get an overview of how international organisations identify, analyse and solve global health issues;
d- Become familiar of the role and functions of the World Health Organisation, including the co-ordinating role of the WHO - Headquarters in Geneva as a secretariat to its members
e- Analyse current research and development for public health interventions and health systems strengthening.
On successful completion of the module, students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- Critically analyse the role and functions of international organisations in health policy formulation, implementation and evaluation;
2- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the role of international organisations, including their activities in policy development, health research and knowledge dissemination;
3- Illustrate appropriate use methods for assessing a health issue/policy from an international perspective;
4- Implement methods for analysing current research in public health and health systems strengthening for the development of national health
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes
Technical skills
1- Analysing international health issues, policies and the roles of different international organisations.
2- Analyse and engage effectively with different approaches of working with diverse multidisciplinary stakeholders in international health, including those working on global crisis issues, such as pandemics.
Work Ready skills
3- Exercise diplomacy when discussing international health topics with technical staff working in international organisations, including those working in conflict and crisis management
Academic skills
4- Appraise critically data and information related to international health policy
The syllabus for this module will include the following:
- The study tour will be presented at the start of the programmes and students will be expected to choose the module with sufficient time to allow for making travel arrangements. Support will be provided by administrative staff.
- Teaching sessions will be provided before the field trip to outline the role and functions of international organisations in global health.
- Each student will select a topic of interest to analyse its relevance to their own country’s situation. They will be required to submit an outline of their project which will be approved by the module leaders.
- The study tour will run for five days during which a pre-arranged programme of visits, lectures and seminars will be offered.
- Students will have the opportunity to make individual contacts with technical staff from various international organisations to discuss their projects for this module as well as for their programme dissertations.
- On return from Geneva students will be required to submit and present their findings (for assessment) of the health issue/policy they analysed during the visit
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 5 | 8 | 40 |
| Group learning | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Lecture | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Practical | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Seminar | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Independent online learning hours | 12 | ||
| Private study hours | 69 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 69 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Student progress will be monitored through the following activities:
- Comments from the module leaders on proposed topics for analysis before the field trip.
- During the study tour attendance will be monitored for all pre-arranged lectures, seminars, tours. Participants are briefed ahead of time for each session, and informed on how to prepare for these sessions.
- Exercise on writing a poster.
- Regular feedback and discussion sessions will provide group learning and guidance. This includes debrief discussions.
- Academic staff, who accompany participants, will track and encourage questions from participants to technical staff during pre-arranged sessions.
- Academic staff will meet with participants to discuss and clarify questions. They will also help to identify technical staff working in different organisations that can support student learning and development.
- On return from Geneva participants will have a question and answer session on the requirements for assessment with module leaders.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | poster presentation - 10 Minutes | 100 |
| Coursework | Formative assessment - Prior to the assessment, students are given a session on how to prepare a poster | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The aim of the assignment will be to assess the ability of students to analyse a health issue / policy and the contribution of international organisations in addressing the issue/policy. Students will analyse the relevance of a chosen health issue/policy to a country of their choice. Students will be asked to create a poster and then speak to the poster that they have made. It will contribute to development of the skills necessary to be proficient in the field of global public health (e.g., speaking to a poster made for a conference), such as those listed in SLO1 – SLO7.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 19/03/2025
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