Course description
Full-Timestudy
Introduction
Based at Keele University in Staffordshire, the Centre is specifically concerned with the planning and management of health services.
Created in 1986, it is acknowledged as an important research and development centre and a major provider of innovative postgraduate teaching. The research and development activities of the Centre operate under three broad categories: Health Policy, Health Services Management and Health Services Research. The teaching programmes focus on strengthening the managerial capacity sensitivity to policy of health service personnel, both in the UK and internationally.
In all areas of work, the Centre has established a proven track record of quality and innovation. Its achievements have earned the Centre a well-deserved reputation for its significant contribution to understanding contemporary issues and for quality of its publications. Building on its success, the Centre is continually developing further areas of excellence in order to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of its activities.
Course Structure and Content
The programme is delivered in two parts:
• A structured series of five taught modules, each of 25 M level credits (125 credits)
• A research project in the field of health management leading to the writing of a dissertation (60 credits). In addition, in order to be allowed to proceed to the MBA research project stage, students must have completed the Key Skills for Managers Students who successfully complete only the taught modules will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.
Course Modules
• Health/Population Planning and Management – Explores the challenges and opportunities inherent in the process of policy-making and planning, and seeks to develop skills and expertise in the decision-making process. It provides an understanding of the process of strategic management in the health sector, drawing on contemporary themes in health policy and on approaches to policy analysis.
• Health Economics and Financial Management – Seeks to develop the participant’s understanding of alternative approaches to resource use in the development context and improves familiarity with modern accounting and financial reporting practices.
• Human Resource Management – Seeks to develop an appropriate framework within which to understand, analyse and adopt the issues
and challenges of human resource management.
• Reproductive Health Management – Aims to develop awareness and understanding of important concepts, theories, skills and practice
appropriate to this specialist area of health, its psychosocial aspects and applications to the wider concept of general physical and mental health in development management. This is a specialist area and encompasses aspects of human sexuality, adolescent fertility management, genetic counselling, contraceptive technologies, and management of HIV/AIDS programmes. The course includes an intensive five-day workshop on maternal and child health. The module focuses on the practical needs of development managers in this field.
• Health Information, Education and Communication Strategies – Designed to ensure that participants receive training in developing
the skills of effectively communicating information and education in order to accomplish behaviour change. The topic is a specialised
one and includes in-depth training in Advocacy, Media Strategies in Counselling, and Training Approaches/Techniques, at both
organisational and other levels. The Social Science Research Methods workshop aims to develop an understanding of social science research methods through a rigorous and practical approach to their construction and use. Participants will be exposed to the process of project design, data collection and data analysis from conceptual foundations to report writing. A five-day workshop on management of HIV/AIDS is included in this module. This is a specialist area and encompasses aspects of human sexuality, adolescent fertility management, genetic counselling, contraceptive technologies and reproductive health for ageing populations. The module focuses on the practical needs of development managers in this field.
• Key Skills for Managers – Develops foundation skills needed in management and research through a flexible and practical approach. Participants will be exposed to project design, data collection and data analysis, report writing, ICT and presentation skills.
Assessment
Taught modules – Each taught module is assessed by written assignment (60%) and exam ( 0%). The pass mark for all modules is 50%.
The Dissertation and Research Project – Following completion of the taught programme, participants undertake a research project through
the preparation of a 15,000 word dissertation. This comprises a piece of independent research equivalent to approximately four months’ duration, and takes the form of an in-depth analysis of a problem or topic of relevance, and benefit to the participant’s own work environment and/or country experience. The research project offers an opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills and insights emerging through participation in the taught modules, as well as a means of developing and demonstrating initiative; competence in the use of relevant analytical skills; a logical approach to problem-solving and argument; and clear report-writing and skills in presenting textual and non-textual information.
