Five-module, open online course
PREP IP partners are offering the six-week version of the free online course from October 16 to November 24, 2023. This is the five-module, open online course, initially offered in the spring 2023. Centre for Migration Health (CMH), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK), and University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic) are responsible for leading one module each. Learning from the pilot version of the course offered in the spring we have revised the course for the fall 2023. Learners in the spring course were invited to participate in co-creation of the next iteration of the course by sharing their experiences, commenting, and suggesting changes. The course is hosted on the HVL Canvas learning platform. It is a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities with live sessions organized every Tuesday. The course is open to students and practitioners in health and social care disciplines.
This course examines interprofessional approaches to refugee health, by focusing on health and rehabilitation challenges caused by global migrations. It reviewes health, political, environmental, social, technological, legal and environmental causes and consequences of this phenomenon. The course deepens students’ understanding of diverse aspects and challenges to refugee health including both physical and mental health. It prepares students for interprofessional collaboration to address them within different contexts and systems while upholding human rights and promoting equity and inclusion of refugees.
In the course learners examine experiences of refugees in new health and social contexts as well as barriers and enablers to accessing health and social services from an interprofessional and intersectoral perspective. Along with competence for interprofessional collaboration learners build their own cultural competence to work with refugees of diverse cultural backgrounds and in different languages.
Learning Outcomes
The course learning outcomes are defined using European Qualification framework (knowledge, skills, general competence-responsibility and autonomy). A participant who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes
Knowledge:
The learner…
- has advanced knowledge within the field of refugee health related to interprofessional health and social care collaboration
- has thorough knowledge of theories, frameworks, concepts and methods in the field (e.g. social justice, human rights,…)
- can apply knowledge of refugee health to health and social care practice
- can analyze health and social issues as well as resources of refugees based on the history, traditions, contexts, and individual experiences
Skills:
The learner…
- can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to provide rationale for meaningful engagement of people with refugee experiences in health and social care
- can analyze theories, methods and interpretations in the field of refugee health and work independently and in teams to address practical and theoretical problems
- can identify, appraise and use different types of evidence to deliver effective informed care
- can advocate on behalf of clients, from community- to policy level, to improve their access to appropriate resources and services that support their inclusion in society
General competence (EQF responsibility and autonomy)
The learner…
- can communicate and collaborate with other health and social care professionals to optimize interprofessional team performance in refugee health and social care setting
- demonstrate a critical awareness of ethical questions regarding refugee health
- can apply refugee health knowledge and skills in varied contexts integrating perspectives of persons with refugee experiences and professionals
- can elevate narratives of persons with refugee experiences to inform practice and support inclusion into community
Modules
The course has five modules:
- Global migrations (CMH): This module aims to provide a general overview of the theoretical content related to refugees by highlighting the unique conditions that refugees experience. Additionally, in the module learners explore how healthcare professionals address the specific needs and challenges of refugees, all within the context of the basic human rights concept. The module covers key theoretical concepts, explore case studies, and offer practical guidance on providing adequate care to refugees. By the end of this module, learners will have gained a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing refugees and the critical role that healthcare professionals play in meeting their unique needs.
- Refugee experiences in new health and social context (TCD): This module focuses on exploring and recognizing the individuality and unique experiences of people with refugee experience. It covers strategies that health professionals can use to identify and respond to the specific needs and preferences of people using their services. The module highlights the importance of continual learning in this area of practice and how critical reflection and appraisal of one’s practice and outcomes are key components to ensure effective practice now and in the future. The concepts of person-centered practice and creating therapeutic space are explored and how these approaches can be practically implemented by different professions working collaboratively in providing services for people with refugee experience.
- Navigating Health Systems and Transforming Practice through Interprofessional and Intersectoral Collaboration (HVL): This module introduces theoretical and practical aspects of working collaboratively with persons with refugee experiences and professionals across disciplines, professions and sectors. It focuses on relationship building, communication and collaboration as foundations for quality health services while supporting persons with refugee experiences to access the care they need within and beyond the health systems.
- Diversity in Society & in Health Care (HAWK): This module looks at diversity-sensitive interprofessional services for persons with refugee experience as a response to increasing societal diversity and the associated demands for equal health opportunities. It introduces relevant key concepts such as culture, diversity, intersectionality and racism. The module covers essential aspects of culturally responsive practice and strategies for successful cross-cultural communication, questions of interprofessional ethical practice in refugee health and possibilities of professionals to contribute to advocacy and empowerment in the field of refugee health.
- Social and Occupational Determinants of Mental Health (UVic): This module reflects on how to improve the well-being of the refugee community focusing on its social and occupational determinants. It introduces relevant concepts, frameworks, and theories related to mental health, and the social and occupational determinants. The module goes in-depth into the social determinants of mental health from the World Health Organization. It also develops the occupational determinants of mental health, developing concepts such as occupational justice. Work and social entrepreneurship are developed as important dimensions. The importance of work for migrants and the use of social entrepreneurship to promote employability will be highlighted. Case studies will be presented to illustrate the contents of the module.
Registration
Registration of the course starting on 16 October 2023 is open. Fill out the registration form and join us in October.
Certificates
Recognizing that learners in this course have different expectations that are reflected in different levels of engagement in course activities, and participation in learning assessments as well as in the course evaluation, we tried to build a flexible approach to the course learning assessments and recognition. There are three types of certificates that will be issued by the Project:
- A certificate (letter) acknowledging the contribution to co-creating the course for participants who provide us with feedback and take part in the evaluation of the course.
- Certificate of Participation – for participants who take part in 50% of learning activities such as discussion forums and/or live sessions but do not complete module assignments/assessments.
- Certificate of Completion – for participants who pass a minimum of two out of five module assignments/assessments (graded on pass/fail basis)
Details about the upcoming autumn course will be available on this webpage and in social medial. For more information please contact Djenana Jalovcic at jadj@hvl.no.
