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Introduction to Global Health MOOC, academic year 2026-2027

Open university
Credits:
3 ECTS credits
Location:
Kuopio
Continuous learning category:
Social welfare and health care
Teaching format:
Online teaching, Independent learning
Price:
60 € (VAT 0%)
Jatkuva oppiminen verkkosivut

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.

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.


This MOOC study unit is available for all at DigiCampus environment. Participation in the course requires registration on the DigiCampus platform. You can start studying by logging in with HAKA account or Google: https://digicampus.fi/ (no self enrolment key needed). After completing whole study unit you can download an unofficial certificate of completion that indicates that you have taken the study unit.

If you would like to receive a formal grade and study credits: register as an Open University student at Opintopolku or UEF website (please see more information from application process -tab). Register in DigiCampus with self enrolment key given from Open University. Open University registration is open 3.8.2026-15.6.2027 at Opintopolku and UEF website.

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. 

Irrespective of time
English

Register for studies

How to register for Open University Studies

1. Choose your studies

Go to the registration service using the button on this page. You will see information about the course, which you can review before registering. Add the course to your study cart. You can also add other courses to the cart before proceeding.

2. Identify yourself and pay

Log in via the Suomi.fi service, fill in your personal details on the registration form, and confirm your registration. Pay for the studies at the time of registration.

Registration is binding. Please read the Open University payment and cancellation terms before registering.

If you cannot identify yourself via the Suomi.fi service but are able to pay using one of the following methods: Google Pay or Apple Pay, Visa or MasterCard, please register in the online service (choose ‘Skip identification’). Otherwise, contact the student affairs secretary (contact details below). Be prepared to verify your identity with an official ID after registration.

If your employer is paying the course fee and you do not have access to a company credit card, contact the student affairs secretary before registering. You can find the contact details at the bottom of the page.

Studies paid with a study voucher: the voucher must be activated in the Opin.fi service before registration and payment.

3. Wait for confirmation and start your studies

Processing the registration usually takes 2–5 business days, and at most 10 business days. After processing, you will receive an email with a link to the instructions for starting your studies. Please read the instructions carefully.

UEF username

  • If you are studying at the University of Eastern Finland for the first time, you will receive separate instructions on how to activate your UEF username.
  • If you already have a UEF username, change your password.

Your username will receive the necessary access rights once your study right begins.


Didn’t receive the message? Check your email’s spam folder. If the message is not there, contact the Open University.

Registration starts:
2026-08-03 09:00
Registration ends:
2027-06-15 23:59