Course syllabus for Global Health Practice and Project Management

Specific entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6/English level 2.

Outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Discuss the challenges of collaboration in global health practice including multisectoral action.
• Demonstrate understanding in planning and project management in global health.
• Demonstrate knowledge of methods and tools used in planning and project management.

Competence and skills

• Analyse global health actors' roles and mandates.
• Demonstrate familiarity with project management tools (situational assessments, stakeholder engagement, programming, budgeting, risk assessment and evaluation) in global health projects.

Judgment and approach

• Critically appraise how theory and frameworks shape global health practice.
• Integrate ethical principles throughout global health project management.

Content

This course introduces the principles of project management and their application in global health. Students will learn how to manage global health projects, using tools such as logical frameworks, SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, and Gantt charts. They will develop practical skills in planning, budgeting, and risk assessment, enabling them to manage projects effectively. The course also focuses on project leadership, including the essential skills and qualifications required for managing teams and resources in global health contexts.

Collaboration across sectors is an important theme, with students learning how to establish partnerships and work within multisectoral frameworks to tackle global health challenges. They will assess the roles and mandates of different global health actors, such as governments, civil society organisations, and international organisations, and explore how these actors collaborate in project implementation. Ethical principles will be integrated to ensure that students understand how to manage projects responsibly and make decisions that align with ethical standards in global health.

Students will gain practical experience through study visits to organisations such as SIDA, and UNICEF, where they will critically evaluate the roles and collaboration mechanisms of these key actors. The course also develops communication skills, with students practising how to engage various stakeholders through activities like writing debate articles and creating podcasts, ensuring they are equipped to communicate effectively in global health settings.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include lectures, practical exercises in project management, study visits, and group work applying various project management tools.

Examination

This course is examined through an individual assignment graded Fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). Participation in compulsory components is required for pass.

Compulsory participation
Participation in practical exercises, study visits, group work and the final examination is compulsory.

The examiner assesses if, and in that case how, absence from compulsory educational elements can be compensated for. Before the student has participated in the compulsory educational elements or compensated the absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the final course results will not be reported. Absence from a compulsory educational component may imply that the student cannot compensate for the missed compulsory educational element until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations, he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided. The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is also regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but did not participate in will not be counted as an examination.

In the event of special circumstances, or if a student with a disability is in need of certain adjustments, the examiner may decide to depart from the syllabus' regulations on examination form, number of examination opportunities, possibility of completion or exemption from compulsory educational elements, etc. Content and intended learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be altered, removed or lowered.

Transitional provisions

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

Other directives

The course language is English.

Course evaluation is carried out according to the guidelines that are established by the Committee for Higher Education.

Literature and other teaching aids

Mandatory and recommended literature and readings will be available on the learning management system during the course.