Global Health: Critical Reflections

About

The health and wellbeing of people differs widely across the globe. Do you want to know why such differences exist and what you could do to reduce such disparities and contribute to make this world a better place to live in?

In this summer school, we will explore the social, political, economic and cultural elements that explain global health disparities. We will introduce you to the concepts of globalisation and global health, illustrate the global burden of disease, and by doing so, we will deepen your understanding of the inequities and inequalities between and within countries and why we think they exist. Then, we will focus on the main global health stakeholders and ´global health´ governance. We will explore diverse science paradigms that have dominated the way we analyse and comprehend the process of being healthy and ill, as well as how we approach global health issues. We will touch on concepts such as determinants of health vs determination of health (a Latin-American theoretical construct), decolonialism and equitable discourses in global health. We will demonstrate using current global health case studies in the field and highlight the research skills and evidence needed to inform policy and practice. The course will be delivered by global health experts at BSMS and our independent consultant Maria Cristina Quevedo-Gomez.

Topics may include:

- Introduction to global health
- Global burden of disease
- Unequal world: colonialism, power, justice and ethics in global health
- Stakeholders in global health (global health governance)
- Doing global health research: equitable partnerships, collaboration and community participation - Practical examples from UK, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa
- Culture, cultural competence and global health
- Global health in action- learning through film (film from the field)
- Latin-American scholars’ contribution to global health theory and action-research

Course aim

1. Demonstrate excellent understanding of current global health problems and their contributing factors

2. Demonstrate ability to critic terminologies and concepts used in global health e.g., equity, public health versus global health, developing versus developed countries, international health vs global health, interventions vs collective social action, social determinants approach vs social determination approach etc.

3.Understand the role of social, cultural, political, economic and other elements as determinants of health

4. Critically evaluate the diverse scientific and social paradigms that inform how we approach global health issues and employ a critical lens is assessing the role of decolonial discourses, power and equitable partnerships in global health

5. Demonstrate understanding of global health research process including participatory action-research and the challenges of doing research in global contexts

Fee info

The full cost of one 3-week Undergraduate Summer School session will be £2,645. Early applications will receive a 20% reduction on tuition fees, making the overall cost of one 3-week Undergraduate Summer School session £2320. If you wish to study for both sessions, we welcome you to do so. This is made up of Tuition fees of £1,625 per session including all teaching and assessment for one module of study. Where field trips or course excursions are required then the cost of this is included in the tuition fee, however travel costs may be required. A minimum of 150 study hours, with a minimum of 40 hours class/teaching contact hours. Modules formally approved for 15 Sussex credits, equivalent to 7.5 ECTS or 3 – 4 US credits. You will receive a transcript of studies upon successful completion of the module (including meeting all attendance and assessment requirements). The accommodation and student life programme fee of £1,020 per session includes your own bedroom in on-campus student village. These are a mixture of en-suite flats and standard flats with shared facilities. You will receive a bedding pack of duvet and duvet cover, sheet, towel, pillow, and pillowcase, as well as a kitchen pack containing everything you need for self-catering. The fee includes a programme of campus social events and activities throughout each session. Excursions and social programme trips will also be provided on Fridays.