Title:	HIV Policy, governance and financing
Keywords:	Planning and programming Health Policy HIV/AIDS
Country:	Netherlands
Institution:	The Netherlands - Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam
Course coordinator:	H. Ormel
Date start:	2016-04-11
Date end:	2016-05-04
About duration and dates:	4 weeks, full time
Classification:	advanced optional
Mode of delivery:	Distance-based
Course location: Online - using virtual learning environment (based on Moodle-software) - participants will need ability to be online 4 hours per day as a minimum
ECTS credit points:	5 ECTS credits
SIT: 137 hours Contact hours: 0 hrs.; online study: approx. 70 hrs.; self-study: approx. 67 hrs.
Language:	English
Description: At the end of the course students will be able to: • Identify and apply relevant HIV rights and development-related international agreements, conventions and agencies, and analyse how these and related governance and financing mechanisms influence national development policy, planning and implementation and vice-versa • Analyse policies and governance and financing structures and implications for managing the response to HIV in low and middle income countries. • Perform HIV strategic policy review from a multi-stakeholder perspective, including mobilising stakeholders from different sectors.
Assessment Procedures: Participants will be assessed on a final paper (75%) and online participation and constructive peer feedback (25%). The final paper is a policy brief (2,500 words +/- 10%), addressing a specific HIV-related policy issue. Papers are read and assessed by two independent readers on the basis of a set of criteria. The policy brief accounts for 75% of the totals mark for the module while the constructive feedback to other participants' products, and critical, constructive interactions on the virtual learning environment account for 25% of total marks. Constructive feedback will be assessed based on the quantity and quality of feedback provided (assessed by two independent reviewers). The final paper needs to be submitted not later than the last day of the course. Preceding paper drafts need to be uploaded online at certain times so as to allow peers to deliver their feedback also at certain time intervals. Resit: Those students who fail can resubmit the policy brief; students will be provided one round of tutoring support. Resubmissions can be made two times per academic year.
Content: This course covers: • HIV and AIDS-related international agreements, development commitments and financial mechanisms, • influence on national planning and implementation and vice versa. • political and institutional structures and their implications for planning and managing the response. The module furthermore explores issues around • universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support • the international aid architecture • human rights • governance • the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV or AIDS • research and strategic information for national planning; • multi-stakeholder involvement • the relationship between poverty reduction strategies, development processes and HIV and AIDS • HIV internal mainstreaming (workplace programmes) • costing national HIV plans; approaches to scaling up good practices.
Methods: The course will be offered on-line; generally without real-time interaction (= asynchronous: without need to be online at the same time as other participants). This means that students generally can follow the course from anywhere in the world and at flexible times convenient for them; keeping in mind however that this is a full-time course and that certain products and interactions will be required at specific time intervals. (When real-time (synchronous) interaction is required this will be indicated, e.g. for some discussions, tutorials and group assignments.) Methods include: - Online content delivery (e.g. recorded mini-lectures, videos, on-screen reading) (17 hours) - Interactive exercises including online debate, discussion forums, group assignments and individual assignments such as reflection and self-assessment, in various formats (20 hours) - Writing assignments (15 hours), including provision of feedback to peers’ assignments - Discussion sessions and tutorials (5 hours, synchronous) - Self-study; reading and other (50 hours) - Final paper (builds on other writing assignments and exercises) (30 hours), including selfs study and commenting online on peers‘ draft proposals - Accompanied by daily facilitation and moderation of the process and sessions by facilitator(s) (part-time during weekdays), as well as feedback by experts The learning process underlying this approach draws upon the didactical principles of social constructivist learning. Also, participants are usually from various nationalities and are expected to actively share own experiences in their interaction with other so as to contribute to learning and building knowledge and competencies.
Prerequisites: • Academic training or professional qualification in a relevant area • Three years of work experience in a related area, including experience in management or planning in developing countries • Proficiency in spoken and written English (TOEFL 550 or IELTS 6.0) • Daily access to computer and internet with sufficient speed and reliability to access and use the virtual learning platform, own email and the web (real-time Skype/chat, YouTube, various websites, searching literature and other resources). (Materials like literature and presentations can be downloaded but their follow-up will still require online interaction.) • Computer and internet literacy; the participant should be able to use a computer with internet as described, and working-level understanding of Microsoft Office software (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Adobe (PDF).
Attendance: Maximum number of students: 25 Maximum number of tropEd students: 5 80% Attendance/online activity is the minimum required.
Selection: First come, first served principle
Fees: 1500 Euro in 2016
Scholarships: Nuffic: www.nuffic.nl, please check Netherlands Fellowship programme; NFP application period : 1 September – 20 October 2015
Major changes since initial accreditation: Major changes had occurred just before previous accreditation and were not made since. However, continuous smaller changes were made every year to ensure relevance vis-à-vis HIV-related policy and programme realities in esp. Sub-Sahara Africa and Asia and interactions in the international arenas.
Student evaluation: Over the past years, participants expressed general satisfaction with achieving the module objectives and the variety of (and balance in) teaching methods (so far: blended learning, combining classroom and virtual sessions). The study load was thought to be demanding but acceptable, with an appropriate division over contact time, assignments and self-study. Reading materials were appreciated in quality and quantity, although it was requested for all recommended reading materials (not provided a priori) to be made readily accessible online which in this online course has been implemented Students’ written session evaluations were overall very positive. Suggestions made concerned more in-depth attention for key concepts used during the course; and adapting the sequencing of some sessions to facilitate learning. KIT subsequently addressed these suggestions by adapting course contents, methods and programming. Participants indicated that they appreciated the virtual learning environment, which according to one participant “…is a quite new and interesting experience for me…very convenient in term of sharing materials and interaction”. Participants suggested that virtual learning should be introduced to the overall master course at an earlier stage.
Lessons learned: The field of HIV-related policy and financing had evolved rapidly over the past decade(s) and keeps changing – with attention now somewhat diminishing and thus staying well-tuned with these developments is even more important, to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, the integration of HIV with SRHR aspects, including links to MDG and post-MDG development objectives, offers continued opportunities for learning. The blended learning approach required a careful crafting and balancing of real-time and virtual sessions, the latter including both synchronous and asynchronous elements. This in turn required professional development of course coordinator(s) and facilitators involved, which KIT had addressed. Based on this experience, the course is now changed to fully online.
tropEd accreditation: The blended learning version of this module was accredited in tropEd GA meeting in Cape Town, January 2008. Re-accredited in September 2009 and January 2014. This accreditation is valid until June 2019.
Remarks: This module is the second module in both the HIV and AIDS track as well as the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) track of the MPH course. As such it links to and builds on the initial track module, deepening understanding from a policy level point of view. It also lays down the framework for (health sector and related) responses to HIV and AIDS or, respectively, sexual and reproductive health issues. However, it is not essential, nor necessary for the student to have taken the prior modules, to follow this module. online application
Email Address:	F.Maldonado@kit.nl
Date Of Record Creation:	2012-01-19 02:09:44 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2012-01-19 08:24:28 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2015-10-09 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2021-11-21 19:42:15 (W3C-DTF)