Sustainable Health and Development, 7.5 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

After the course, the student should be able to: 

• Explain the concepts of sustainable health and sustainable development.  
• Analyse the interrelationships between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
• Evaluate the impact of the major sustainability challenges on health, health systems and healthcare. 
• Analyse how multisectoral collaboration contributes to improved health and sustainable development.  
• Apply systems thinking to propose solutions to sustainable health and development challenges.  
• Describe the most important arenas for global health diplomacy and how it is applied to forward sustainable health and development. 
• Analyse the ethical implications of interventions to address sustainable health and development challenges. 

In this course, students will deepen their understanding of sustainable health and sustainable development. They will analyse the interrelationship of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and building on earlier courses, students will explore how global sustainability challenges-such as climate change, extreme poverty, inequality, and antimicrobial resistance-affect health, health systems, and healthcare. Using an intersectional lens, they will examine how these challenges disproportionately impact vulnerable populations and exacerbate health disparities, expanding on prior discussions of equity and the social determinants of health. 

The course will progress students' learning on the critical role of multisectoral collaboration and global health diplomacy in advancing sustainable health and development. Students will assess real-world examples of how collaboration between sectors-such as government, civil society, and the private sector-contributes to improved health outcomes and supports progress toward the SDGs. Systems thinking, introduced in previous coursework, will be applied to propose holistic solutions to these complex wicked problems. 

Students will evaluate the ethical implications of interventions aimed at addressing sustainability challenges, focusing on promoting equity and avoiding unintended harm. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to propose strategies that not only address global issues but do so in ethically responsible and equitable ways, ensuring sustainable health and development for all. 

The teaching consists of interactive seminars, group work and individual tasks, as well as an independent assignment. The course uses the flipped classroom method, i.e. the students read the literature before the teaching session and come well prepared for discussion and active learning.   

The course is examined through active participation in discussions at seminars and group work including presentations. In addition, the student must complete an individual written assignment. For the grade pass with distinction, it is required that the student has achieved pass with distinction on the written assignment. 

Compulsory participation
Participation in seminars, group work, presentation and the individual assignment 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.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

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.

The course language is English.

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