Public Health and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Unit code: HPO7006 | Study level: Postgraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Victoria University Online
N/A
Overview
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Overview

The 2030 agenda identifies 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are the roadmap for global development for the coming years. The SDGs aim to “ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality in a healthy environment.” In this unit, students will define sustainable development through the examination of the concepts of sustainability and social and economic development. The relationship between health, health determinants and sustainable development will be explored including the areas of health governance, healthy environments and health literacy. Students will examine frameworks and local and global efforts in relation to sustainable development focusing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how health can be promoted through all 17 SDGs. Through engaging the whole of society in the health development process this unit examines the opportunities and challenges of using health as a platform to engage multiple stakeholders across different sectors to achieve the SDGs.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Rationalise ‘sustainable development’ considering the evolution of the concepts of ‘sustainability’ and ‘development’;
  2. Critically examine frameworks and local and global efforts in relation to sustainable development;
  3. Critically analyse pathways where health is a pre-condition, outcome and indicator of progress of sustainable development;
  4. Conceptually map how the SDGs provide an opportunity for addressing health and its determinants;
  5. Appraise cost-effective interventions, strategies and platforms to accelerate context specific sustainable progress towards the better health for all; and
  6. Advocate for and formulate collaborative approaches, policies and interventions that place health at the centre of efforts to meet the SDGs.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 10%
Policy brief to catalyse progress towards sustainable development (500 words)
Assessment type: Poster
|
Grade: 40%
Conference presentation poster to achieve SDG targets (2500 words)
Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 50%
Promoting health through the SDGs. (2000 words)

Required reading

Selected readings will be made available via the unit VU Collaborate site.

As part of a course

This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.

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