New and emerging infectious diseases, changing disease patterns, aging, rising costs of health care – these are problems that add complexity to the already considerable health challenges the world is facing today. Many diseases do not stop at national borders and most health problems have social, political and economic impacts. The world is more than ever in need of a vision of health that spans the globe. At the same time, innovative answers to health challenges emerge, like novel pharmaceuticals, neurotechnologies, genomics, m health (using mobile phones), field test kits that replace whole laboratories, as well as innovative funding schemes and care arrangement (for example community-based health care). But how can we make these answers fit the challenges that are emerging? History shows numerous, at best, not-so-effective health interventions and unintended consequences. To effectively address these complex health challenges, global health researchers need to cross disciplinary boundaries and interact with health professionals, patients and others to gain in-depth understanding of global health problems, and to set out cohesive and strategic action to solve these problems. Within higher education, this requires more societal accountability and engagement to help students connect with the society and learn competencies to deal with real world societal challenges.
In this minor, students will get the opportunity to work together with various local and global communities on a real-world problem and develop sustainable innovations. Through community engagement students can build a network, practice real life problem solving and work on competences for life such as transdisciplinary collaboration, reflection, dealing with diversity, creativity, leadership and adaptability.
The minor is inter/trans-disciplinary and is a good preparation for various Master's programmes like Health Sciences, Global Health and Management, Policy-Analysis & Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences.