Module description

The optional module 'Peace, health and medical work' ( HEL 3011) is aimed at students who are interested in health-related international work.

Objectives:
The main objective of the module is to create awareness about the potential role of health professionals in violence prevention and sustainable peace building.
The module will provide theoretical and analytical tools for comprehending the basic mechanisms of global medical peace work, and it will introduce necessary skills, knowledge, and values. The students will learn about different threats to peace and human security (such as proliferation of arms and unequal access to healthcare), and the various ways in which health professionals can act to counter such threats. Further, the module will focus on positive and negative impacts of humanitarian aid and development assistance, and outline the peace building capacity of health professionals when working both, from Norway or in violent-prone settings abroad.

Methods:
Most lecturers have international fieldwork experience and in addition to regular lectures, teaching methods include group workshops, role-playing, a panel debate and a film screening.

Language:
English

Assessment Procedures:
Peace, health and medical work is organised in three parts: It contains an intensive 45-hour course (on 13.-17. March 2006), a 4 1/2-week self-study period, and 1 1/2-weeks for essay writing. Students are granted 10 ECTS credits upon class participation, completion of all required reading, and passing the home exam (7-10 pages).

Prerequisites:
Eligible applicants are students enrolled on Masters degree courses or health profession courses (such as 'profesjonsstudiet i medisin') at the University of Tromsø and Tromsø University College.

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