What will I learn on this module?
You will learn about the physical, social, political, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of health and well-being associated with immediate crises and longer-term health burdens. This lays foundations for comparing and contrasting strategic policy for preparedness and responses to emergent health hazards, complex political disasters, resilient health care and ways of looking at communities and the socio-economic, political, and environmental characteristics they exhibit. This agenda responds to a need to understand the nature and context of changes in human health and well-being in relation to local and global crises. It provides grounding in applied principles and practices of health and well-being centred disaster risk reduction and health care relative to conceptions of health and well-being in emergency, including bottom-up capabilities, leadership and hopes from inside and outside a community. Critical issues in both minority and majority worlds are examined in terms of health hazards, vulnerability, resilience, coping, individual and institutional health care and societal responses. These central themes are explored in relation to key aspects of health and wellbeing, including infectious disease, nutrition, WASH, primary and emergency health care systems, and other integrated well-being perspectives. Students from varied backgrounds will be equipped to contribute to policy and practice debates on health disaster avoidance, survivability and sustainable well-being.
How will I learn on this module?
You will learn through seminars, workshops, directed and independent learning. The module includes twelve three hour contact sessions over Semester Two. These comprise lectures, open discussions, group activities and presentations. Students can choose to deepen their understanding of specific aspects of health and community well-being through the specific foci of their assignments. A core element of the subject is the improved awareness and effectiveness that emerges through integrated health and well-being centred disaster risk reduction and development. In this respect, the module emphasises themes, approaches, frameworks, and responses that crosscut varied health and well-being issues in disasters and development. Students are encouraged to reflect on analytical and practice orientated linkages between subtopics. Two assignments, an essay (Assignment 1), and a formal report (Assignment 2) accompany this module. The assignments allow for an ongoing learning process with a group discussion for Assignment 1 and ongoing formative feedback and discussion on assignment two. Through content and professional skills development, this module supports employability in the sector.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Support from the module tutors is available throughout the module during taught sessions, one to one consultation during office hours, and via email. The E-Learning site is stocked with materials for the module relating to each lecture, supplementary reading, assignment details and reading lists. Assignment One is supported by a group discussion based on students verbally sharing a summary of their work with the rest of the group. Participants collaborate with peers to develop an active and participatory learning culture amongst fellow students to facilitate peer learning and informal structures of support. Seminars, workshops and tutorials provide students with guidance and informal formative assessment.
We have an open door policy (both in-person and virtual), through which students can arrange a time to meet with us to answer questions, receive feedback and support for their learning on the module. We have a clear culture and departmental policy ensuring timely responses to e-mail communication received from students.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO 1: Appraise definitions and conceptions of health, well-being and community as used by a range of practitioners.
• MLO 2: Interpret the nature and context of health and well-being in disaster including physical health risks, coping and the social, economic, cultural, political and environmental context of disadvantage and marginalisation.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO 3: Prioritise issues to be addressed for health and community well-being in disaster prevention and recovery and in everyday life including the identification of appropriate applications of the principles and practices in health and community well-being development.
• MLO 4: Evaluate institutional sustainability for health care delivery and/or community well-being in emergencies and in development.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO 5: Empathise with mixed definitions, interpretations, and scaling of health and community wellbeing and position yourself and your own ethics and values in relation to key issues of health and wellbeing in contexts of disasters and development.
How will I be assessed?
There are two assessments for this module.
These are individual pieces of work.
MLO 1, 2, 3, 5: individual essay identifying a health-related crisis and critically assessing possible responses. (45% Essay)
MLO 1, 3, 4, 5: individual report on a health and wellbeing case study (55%)
Formative feedback for Assignment One will be provided through a group discussion ahead of its final submission. Formative feedback will continue through written comments on assignment scripts and through in-class feedback to the group.
Formative feedback for Assignment Two will be made through verbal feedback. Students are provided guidance on the expected format and conventions for their submission.
Summative assessment is by way of the 2,500 word essay and the 2,500 word report.
Students receive ongoing advice about both assignments during many of the weekly sessions throughout the module. Students receive written feedback on their final submissions via the module tutor.
Module abstract
Through this module you will critically explore one of the grand challenges of our times, situating human survivability, health and well-being at the core of effective disaster management and sustainable development theory, policy and practice. The module outlines approaches to physical, social, political, economic, cultural and environmental and spatial aspects of health associated with immediate crises and longer-term health burdens. The module explores contested understandings of community health and well-being in disaster, humanitarian crises, and global development contexts. This lays foundations for comparing and contrasting strategic policy for preparedness and responses to emergent health hazards, complex political health disasters, resilient health care and community well-being. Critical health and well-being challenges in both the majority and minority worlds are examined through this module. You will learn about key contemporary issues using a group-based and reflective approach.
