Introduction to Global Health MOOC, academic year 2026-2027
- Credits:
- 3 ECTS credits
- Location:
- Kuopio
- Continuous learning category:
- Social welfare and health care
- Teaching format:
- Online teaching, Independent learning
- Price:
- 60 € (VAT 0%)
Contents
Historical development and evolution of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- Overview of the history and progression of the SDGs.
- Connections between SDGs and global health outcomes.
Key concepts in global health (e.g., global health, planetary health, one health):
- Introduction to core concepts: Global Health, Planetary Health, and One Health.
- Theoretical frameworks and their practical applications in healthcare.
Role of international organizations:
- Overview of major international organizations (e.g., WHO, UN, World Bank).
Learning outcomes
Having completed the course, the student will:
- Be able to understand the historical development of sustainable development goals and their impact on global health.
- Be able to apply key concepts of global health to real-world examples
- Be able to evaluate global health challenges and their connections to healthcare system.
- Be able to analyse the role of international organizations and the impact of their strategies on promoting global health.
Generic skills that will be gained during the course: Sustainable development goals, international skills, critical thinking, interaction and communication, and development of expertise.
Target group:
The course is well suited for anyone interested in global health issues. The studies in nursing science are suitable for both degree-seeking students and for continuing education for social and health care professionals and experts.
Study time: Study unit is open for studying 01.09.2026 - 31.07.2027. You can start whenever you want and complete the studies at the latest 31.7.2027.
Continuous registration: 3.8.2026-15.6.2027.
Participation in the course requires registration on the DigiCampus platform.
Modes of study: Lectures 2 h, exercises 24 h, and independent study 55h;
- MOOC
- Video lectures
- Academic literature, global guidelines, policies and frameworks, strategies for reading material
- Online test
Study materials:
Materials will be distributed at the beginning of the course.
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; National Academy of Medicine; Committee on the Future of Nursing 2020–2030; Flaubert JL, Le Menestrel S, Williams DR, et al., editors. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US). 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573914/
Lerner, H., & Berg, C. (2017). A comparison of three holistic approaches to health: One health, ecohealth, and planetary health. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 4, 163–163. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00163
SDG
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Sustainable Development Goals - Background on the goals. https://www.undp.org/sdg-accelerator/background-goals
Planetary health, Global health, One health
Missoni, E. (2024). Global health, planetary health, One Health: conceptual and ethical challenges and concerns. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 45(3), 241–250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-024-09670-6
Olea-Popelka, F., Redvers, N., & Stranges, S. (2024). Public Health, One Health, and Planetary Health: what is next? European Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae149
Talukder, B., Ganguli, N., Choi, E., Tofighi, M., van Loon, G. W., & Orbinski, J. (2024). Exploring the nexus: Comparing and aligning Planetary Health, One Health, and EcoHealth. Global Transitions, 6, 66–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2023.12.002
Organisations
World Health Organisation (WHO). https://www.who.int/our-work
United Nations (UN). https://www.un.org/en/
World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/home
Evaluation criteria: PASS/FAIL; exercises are compulsory
Literature acquisition costs and borrowing fees are not included in the tuition fee.
There are different ways to study the MOOC course:
1. I just want to browse the contents without earning credit points
You can access the Digicampus environment in two ways:
- As a guest: You can browse the course content and materials but cannot complete any assignments, and your progress won't be saved.
- By logging in with your Google account, your home university's Haka login or via Suomi.fi identification: You can complete assignments and carry on where you left off the last time you accessed the course. You do not need to register for the course.
- The course learning environment can be found in Digicampus
2. I want to complete the course and earn credit points
- If you want to earn credit points and receive an official transcript of records, register for the course as an Open University student through this page and pay the study fee.
- You will receive further instructions on starting the studies by email after registration.
- Open University registration is open 3.8.2026-15.6.2027 at Opintopolku and UEF website.
3. I am a degree student at UEF or I have an alumni study right
- Please register for the course in Peppi.
- You will receive the credit points free of charge.
The study fee is 20 euros per ECTS credit for individual study units, and 15 euros per credit for study modules. The study fee is paid at registration. Prices are valid for the academic year 2026-2027.
For more information on study fees and payment and cancellation terms, please see: Registration, study fees and right to study | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi).
If you can’t identify yourself using the Suomi.fi service, please contact our training secretary; please check contact information below.
By paying the study fee, the student receives a temporary right to study that entitles them to attend a particular course. The right to study is course-specific, and is required to complete the course as specified in the syllabus for the term, covering both teaching and course exams. If the course is continuously open for registration, the maximum time to complete the course is from 1 August to 31 July for that academic year. The right to study for a module lasts until the end of the academic year, which is, until 31.7.2027.
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