Postgraduate Course: Socioeconomic Principles for One Health (INAH11025)
Course Outline
School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This course will describe the methods to identify and quantify the human suffering and economic costs across the human and animal sectors if we fail to build appropriate human and institutional capacities and fail to exploit available technologic innovations in countering health threats. A reduced disease burden among poor people globally will lead to enhanced economic and social contribution by individuals and communities. |
Course description |
This component will focus on the tools for assessing the dual impact of zoonoses on human and animal populations. It will contain tasks and exercises to enable students to build up the necessary skills for estimating this impact alongside calculations of the costs of socially appropriate interventions. This information provides a basis for informing advocacy, priority setting and resource allocation, both in terms of overall resources and cost sharing between medical and veterinary sectors.
At the end of this course students will be able to:
Describe how the principles of economic theory apply to livestock and animal health economics.
Use internet and other resources to find information of relevance to the economic analysis of diseases affecting human and animal populations. Assess data requirements for quantifying their total societal impact and identify ways in which this data could be obtained.
Analyse farm/herd level livestock economics, at the livestock output and gross margin level.
Explain the wider issues in animal health economics and the theoretical principles involved. Discuss how the economic impact of animal disease can be quantified. Use herd models to explore how variations in livestock productivity parameters can be applied in order to assess the impact of disease on livestock and the extent to which interventions to control disease can mitigate this impact.
Apply methods for assessing the impact of disease in human populations using DALYs and in terms of the financial cost to patients and health services of dealing with disease.
Calculate the costs of disease control in human and animal populations.
Use data on disease burden in people, losses in livestock and costs of intervening to control these diseases in cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses. Discuss the options for structuring such analyses in a One Health context and identify appropriate ways of presenting them so as to influence policy.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Flexible |
Course Start Date |
07/04/2025 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Online Activities 60,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
116 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online discussion in both a synchronous and asynchronous environment will contribute further to the final mark. In combination with the submission of electronic course assignments, these elements will provide the remaining 40% of the final mark. |
Feedback |
Summative assessment consists of one written assessment, worth 60% of the total mark, and an online element worth 40%. In each case, comprehensive written feedback is provided individually within 15 working days of the assessment deadline. Students are expected to reflect on their feedback, to seek additional clarification if appropriate, and to use this to improve on future assignments of a similar nature.
Formative assessment consists of discussion around what is expected of each piece of assessed work for the course. This is conducted in a discussion forum for all students to contribute to and provides an opportunity to clearly understand the key requirements for each assignment before submission. Any student can post questions about the assignment and a response will be posted on the discussion board by the course tutor within 3 working days. |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe how the principles of economic theory apply to livestock and animal health economics.
- Use internet and other resources to find information of relevance to the economic analysis of diseases affecting human and animal populations. Assess data requirements for quantifying their total societal impact and identify ways in which this data could be obtained.
- Analyse farm/herd level livestock economics, at the livestock output and gross margin level, calculate the costs of disease control in human and animal populations and apply methods for assessing the impact of disease in human populations using DALYs and in terms of the financial cost to patients and health services of dealing with disease.
- Explain the wider issues in animal health economics and the theoretical principles involved. Critically assess how the economic impact of animal disease can be quantified. Use herd models to explore how variations in livestock productivity parameters can be applied in order to assess the impact of disease on livestock and the extent to which interventions to control disease can mitigate this impact.
- Use data on disease burden in people, losses in livestock and costs of intervening to control these diseases in cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses. Critically analyse the options for structuring such analyses in a One Health context and identify appropriate ways of presenting them so as to influence policy.
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Reading List
No specific reading material, students are pointed to recent peer reviewed articles that will be made available on a weekly basis |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Graduate attributes: Skills and abilities in Research and Enquiry
To be able to exercise critical judgment in creating new understanding of international animal health issues
To be able to critically assess existing understanding and the limitations of their own knowledge and recognise the need to regularly challenge their knowledge and understanding by keeping abreast of current developments as part of a regular routine of self motivated continuing professional development
Students will have been taught the skills on where to search for up to date information that is relevant to their working environment and academic interests.
To have an informed respect for the principles, methods, standards, values and boundaries of their discipline(s) and the capacity to question these
On graduating our students will be able to recognise the importance of reflecting on their learning experiences and be aware of any limitations and how to address these.
Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
To be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking. This is encouraged by the diverse portfolio of courses that the graduate may have chosen to include in their learning experience, challenging themselves both within their current sphere and also outside their normal comfort zone.
To be creative and imaginative thinkers, a feature that will have been enhanced by the variety of assessment methods though which they have been challenged to present, re-imagine, or discuss their learning materials.
Part-time, online learners will have learnt to be able to identify processes and strategies for learning. There is no rigid structure to their learning environment, beyond the established deadlines for continuous assessment. It is for the student to adapt their own circumstances to meet the challenges for this programme, continuous reflection; self-evaluation and self-improvement are fundamental skills in this process. This ensures an independent approach to assimilating knowledge and the knowledge of where to find relevant, additional resources and information.
The self selective student cohort, are all working professionals with a clear vision of where this qualification will place them within their own career pathways. The pace of learning and the support of a similarly minded cohort help ensure that these goals are achieved in a sustainable manner.
Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Communication
To make effective use of written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding. While oral skills are encouraged, until we are certain that the use of these technologies in our online programmes will not prohibit the contribution of any student due to their geographical circumstances, this suite of technologies has not been fully implemented.
The use of communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others is vital in these online programmes, the vast majority of information is text based and students must be able to clearly present their thoughts, ideas and the logical progression of a discussion to one another.
Seek and value open feedback to inform genuine self-awareness. While on programme students are also encourage to participate in peer review, providing open and honest feedback in a clear and supportive manner. This open dialogue is vital in furthering the understanding of how their own performance might be improved.
Recognise the benefits of communicating with those beyond their immediate environments
Use effective communication to articulate their skills as identified through self-reflection.
Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness
The development of confidence in their own skill set, and to appreciate and use their talents constructively, this is taken to include the ability to make decisions based on their understandings and their personal and intellectual autonomy
To create and harness collaborative opportunities through the development of professional networks, and knowledge of potential funding streams and other financial opportunities
To be able to flexibly transfer their knowledge, learning, skills and abilities from one context to another
To understand social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities and issues though membership of a global community of practise. This community encourages students to work together to capitalise on their different thinking, experience and skills in order to progress their knowledge and understanding.
To work with, manage, and lead others in ways that value their diversity and equality and that encourage their contribution to the organisation and the wider community
3. Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others
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Keywords | Disease management,socio-economics,DALY |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Ewan MacLeod
Tel: (0131 6)51 1694
Email: ewan.macleod@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Katherine Shaw
Tel: (0131 6)50 8349
Email: K.Shaw@ed.ac.uk |
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