F1GD 4460 - Global Health and the Strengthening of Health System

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

The COVID-19 pandemic has probably been the most disruptive event the international community has faced in the past 30 years, further evidencing the critical importance of health issues for the security and prosperity of our societies. More than ever, professionals engaging in the foreign policy arena will be confronted to health issues, which have become a central part of the global development agenda and have growing influence on global security questions.

However, major barriers to health care remain systemic and the question of health system strengthening is becoming the driving force in the global health agenda. This course ambitions to provide international relations students with the necessary commands and concepts at stake on the interactions between health, health systems and foreign policies. The course will focus on a system-wide approach to understanding the demands and challenges of health in middle and high-income settings.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• By the end of this course, students shall be able to identify and discuss the main characteristics and building blocks of health systems in middle and high-income countries, as well as the different questions related to their development and strengthening.
• By the end of this course, students shall be able to identify and discuss the main issues of the global health agenda, including the roles, responsibilities and interactions of the various stakeholders involved in the health systems strengthening field (international organizations, countries, philanthropies, etc.).
• By the end of this course, students shall be able to create original and sound policy briefs on topics related to health systems strengthening and global health diplomacy.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Team work, oral communication, written communication, advocacy, research & analysis, critical thinking.

No specific prerequisites needed

• Attendance and participation: 10% of the final mark
• Group presentation: 25% of the final mark

At the beginning of each course, the topic will be introduced by a group of students (2-3 max), with the objective to bring in the main issues at stake and possible angles of discussion for the rest of the class.

• Personal policy brief: 25% of the final mark

A short policy brief will be prepared by each student on a topic of the course. The objective is to demonstrate analytical thinking on a specific issue, including suggested policy actions/implications.

• Group end-year assignment: 40% of the final mark

In groups of no more than three, students will be assigned a topic related to the course and be asked to provide a more detailed and extensive analysis of the issues at stake.

FEEDBACK:

Feedback will be provided throughout the course, after each assignment, collectively and individually via email.

• In class presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Online learning activities: 1 hour a week / 12 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester