Online Module
One Health in Northern Communities and Ecosystems 2 (Online course)
Course code
MAOK4018 (MSc level) or AE9129 (PhD level)
Course name
One Health in Northern Communities and Ecosystems 2
Credits
5 ECTS
Semester
Autumn
Language
English
Required prerequisite knowledge
Recommended knowledge for Master students and other applicants: The course is relevant for students with a background in life sciences, natural or social sciences as well as humanities, law and health sciences, currently studying at master level. The course may also be relevant as continuing education for professionals interested in the One Health topics, the Arctic and transdisciplinary approaches.
Recommended knowledge for PhD candidates: The course is relevant for students with a background in life sciences, natural or social sciences as well as humanities, law and health sciences, currently studying at PhD level.
This course can be taken in combination with the onsite course ”One Health in Northern Communities and Ecosystems 1”. Admission priority will be given to students enrolled in both courses.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course:
Knowledge: Students
- will have thorough knowledge on the concepts of One Health
- will be able to analyze characteristics and challenges of different One Health topics and cases relevant to the Northern Communities and Ecosystems
- can identify and use methods to analyse human, environmental and animal health issues in a One Health perspective
- will be familiar with the complexity of health management
Skills: Students
- will be able to apply various scientific methods relevant to One Health issues
- can critically discuss and respond to One Health challenges
- will be able to identify and discuss the roles, responsibilities and needs of key stakeholders in the context of Northern communities
- can work in a transdisciplinary group aiming to identify, explore and solve complex health challenges drawing on their own core competences
Competence: Students
- can analyse relevant academic, professional and research ethical problems
- can apply their knowledge and skills in new areas in order to carry out advanced assignments and projects
Contents
One Health is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. It is particularly important to predict, prevent, detect, and respond to global health threats. The One Health approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together.
The One Health approach is particularly relevant for food and water safety, nutrition, the control of zoonoses, pollution management, social relationships between humans and animals, and combating antimicrobial resistance. These issues are all responding to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals). One Health is an emerging research field, aligned with Arctic Indigenous Peoples views of health, that has developed as a response to the need of transdisciplinary collaboration to be able to solve problems and challenges in a sustainable manner. Thus, the course is suited for students with a variety of backgrounds, such as life sciences, social sciences, health sciences and humanities.
Topics covered are divided into five modules which include:
Module 1: Introduction and basics
Module 1 offers an interdisciplinary overview of the Arctic and Subarctic regions, focusing on ecosystem diversity, species interactions, and community demographics. It introduces the One Health framework as an integrative approach, addressing its social, ethical, and transdisciplinary dimensions. The module also discusses the impacts and challenges of climate change in the Arctic, including environmental and human health considerations. Overall, it provides insights into the complexities and interdependencies of health, environment, and society in northern regions.
Module 2: Social sciences in One Health
Module 2 delves into the role of social sciences within the One Health framework, elucidating how these disciplines are indispensable for understanding complex One Health issues. The module addresses knowledge production, citizen science, politics of nature, power relations, responsibilization and governance. It further explores the nuances of multi-, trans-, inter- and intradisciplinary collaborations in the One Health context. Finally, the module underscores the importance of stakeholder engagement and intra- and international relations, particularly among Arctic constituents, in advancing One Health initiatives.
Module 3: Aspects of One Health
Module 3 provides an in-depth exploration of the interrelated facets of One Health. Within Animal Health, the module elaborates on its significance, animal welfare and zoonoses, positioning it as a central concern in One Health. The Human Health section offers insights into social aspects of disease, mental health in Northern communities, and traditional food practices. The Environmental Health section explores the connections between One Health and climate change, biodiversity, human encroachment and contaminants. The module concludes with a focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues.
Module 4: Human-Animal Interactions in their shared environment
Module 4 explores the complex dynamics of Human-Animal Interactions within the Northern environments. It discusses strategies for prevention and control of diseases and explores the role of companion animals in human health. The module addresses antimicrobial resistance and assesses the risks associated with the redistribution of the range of non-native species and climate-driven “species-on-the-move” changes. Food safety and food security are contextualized as integral components of One Health. Lastly, the module offers historical and contemporary perspectives on zoonotic pandemics, as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases in the northern ecosystems.
Module 5: The future of One Health
Module 5 will cover how One Health and trans-disciplinarity may develop in the coming years.
Work and teaching methods
This course will be offered online with a workload of 5 ECTS.
Learning methods include:
- Lectures, seminars, presentations, and self-study.
- The course has a total workload of approximately 140 hours, including 40 hours of lectures and seminars, 50 hours reading syllabus and 50 hours for the course work requirement and self-tuition (preparation for lectures and the exam).
Teaching methods:
- Through Online Forum Discussions, students can share their understanding and discuss with each other topics related to One Health. Students are participating in online lectures, seminars and online discussion forum.
- Community-supported learning can be a very creative process, while building team skills. Peer evaluation and problem-based learning are some collaborative learning activities that will be used.
Compulsory requirements
- Attendance to at least 80% of the online exercises and lectures
- Submission of Online-quizzes and Reflection notes.
- Completion of all assignments (short presentations, written reports, peer evaluation, etc) that are arranged during the course.
Examinations
- An individual oral exam will be held at the end of the course and graded as PASS/FAIL.
- PhD candidates that register for this course and not “One Health in Northern Communities and Ecosystems 1”. will receive additional workload, i.e.,group work among PhD students to produce a review lecture aimed towards the general public and decision-makers (approx. 30 minutes) on a relevant topic within “One Health in Northern communities and ecosystems” that will be presented online prior to the individual oral exam.
Course evaluation
In order to help improving the educational quality of the programme of study, students are expected to actively participate in evaluations, questionnaires, meetings etc. The evaluations shall be carried out in accordance with the INN quality assurance system.
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology