Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences

Module Information

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EPH1024 - Healthy Environments and Sustainability in the EU

Period 4: from 5-2-2024 to 5-4-2024
Co-requisites:
None
Coordinator: Beumer, C.
ECTS credits: 9
Language of instruction: English

Publication dates timetable/results in the Student Portal

Deadline publication timetable
The date on which the timetable of this module is available: 19-1-2024

Deadline publication final result
The date on which the final grade of this module is available: 26-4-2024

Resit booking

Exam booking for a test in current academic year (resit)
You will be booked automatically for the resit in one of our resit periods. You may check our calenders to find out which modules can be retaken and when: https://intranet.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/fhml-studenten/studieverloop/wanneer-wat
As of one week before the resit test takes place, you can check in Student Portal if you are booked correctly: Student Portal > My Courses > More actions. The test will also be visible in your time table.

Exam booking for a test from a previous academic year (exam only)
All students who have not passed the test for this module in a previous academic year, will be booked automatically for the test during the regular block period. You will be enrolled in the new course in Canvas but not scheduled for a tutorial group and other educational activities. If you do not wish to participate in this test at the end of the regular block period please de-register via askFHML.

Resit date: 8-7-2024

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Course information

Description:	EN: The module Environmental Health and Sustainability in the EU focuses on the environment as a determinant of health, and sustainability, in a European context (ILO: E112, E212, E412). Environment is a broad concept which can comprise (the interaction between) biological, physical, chemical, socio-economic, cultural, institutional and individual factors. This module particularly focuses on the interaction between the social environment (e.g., communities, employment) (ILO: E311, E413, E213) and the (changing) physical environment (e.g., climate change, air and water quality, biodiversity, and ecological issues related to food supply) (ILO: E212, E311). The complexly intertwined social and environmental dynamics of global change increase uncertainties and create specific challenges in the design of health supporting environments and the development of (public health) policy (ILO: I711, I712, E412, E512). Students will study the health impact of environments on various levels and will study how cities, workplaces, and the use of farmland can be managed in the interest of health, well-being and sustainability (ILO: I711, I712, E112, E212, E213, E412). The dynamic intersection of public health with other disciplines is evident in the design process of (built) environments and policy developments, which is why students will be introduced to the pioneering academic fields of One Health and Planetary Health, as well as to inclusive policy approaches, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, WHO Healthy Cities and Health in All Policies (HiAP) (ILO: E412, I812, C1511). Environmental factors such as climate change, biodiversity loss and land use change can impact the individual citizen level, for example through effects on health and well-being, but at the same time transcend national and European boundaries and governments. By introducing a systems theory approach, the module zooms in and out through various scale levels, but at the same time keeps a specific European focus, analyzing European processes and policies (e.g., Parma Commitment to Act, 20-20-20 targets EU, WHO European Healthy Cities Network, EU Health & Safety at the Workplace). Main principles and themes addressed are: systems thinking, socio-ecological systems, the environmental health and food production chain, sustainable employability, health impact analysis and translation in to policy.
Goals:	EN: *Expert* By the end of the module, students should be able to: E112. Define and reflect on (European) public health as a domain, identify main public health methods. E211. Recall and name basic public health measures of health status. E212. Identify key health indicators and extract such indicators from scientific literature. E213. Describes patterns of socioeconomic and other inequalities in health status. E311. Recall, list and describe (influential models of) factors that determine health status. E312. Distinguishes the concepts of correlation and causality. E313. Recognizes scientific evidence establishing correlation and causality of investigated factors with health status. E412. Articulates diverse roles of public policy in health protection and promotion within the European Union. E413. Describes organizational factors within work environments that impact health status. E512. Outlines archetypical structures of public health infrastructure in Europe. *Investigator* By the end of the module, students should be able to: I611. Writes a basic narrative literature review paper under close supervision I612. Explains basic forms of qualitative and quantitative research methods and data collection. I614. Matches and applies basic statistical analyses to research data. I711. Describes examples of interventions used in public health practice and policy. I712. Identifies basic components and levels of interventions. I812. Explain and illustrate problems using academic approaches and critiques. I813. Assess scientific research and publications at a basic level under close supervision. I814. Recall fundamental principles of research ethics and integrity. I911. Describe the ways in which research forms the basis for public health activity. I1011. Name sources of quality public health information. I1012. Read selectively in terms of both quantity and quality of reading materials. I1013. Relate problem-based learning techniques to personal learning goals and process. *Communicator* By the end of the module, students should be able (on a basic level) to: C1211. Presents on public health topics for peers and teachers. C1212. Discuss topics and findings in English (aiming for level B2). C1311. Identifies target audience, aim, and channels of a program of public health communication. C1312. Demonstrates understanding of feedback from teachers and peers. C1313. Produces limited feedback for peers under supervision. C1411. Defines diversity in its numerous forms. C1412. Describes key dimensions of diversity in Europe. C1511. Recalls and summarizes the Health-In-All-Policies (HIAP) tradition in New Public Health. C1512. Describes the health promotion idea (e.g. Ottawa charter) of mediating and advocating for health. *Professional* By the end of the module, students should be able to: P1611. Participates in structured thesis group meetings. P1612. Accepts feedback from staff and students. P1613. Summarizes what has been learned. P1614. Describes strategies to promote personal growth. P1615. Behave in a respectful, professional and reliable manner in tutor groups, practicals and group work, also in a culturally diverse context (P1813). P1616. Identifies personal bias and prejudices related to professional responsibilities. P1711. Contribute actively and positively in tutor groups and training groups. P1811. Understand and describe the problem-based learning approach. P1813.Positively engages the challenges and opportunities of intercultural diversity within tutorial groups.
Key words:	EN: Environmental Health, Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Anthropocene, Climate Change, Urbanization, Occupation, Agriculture, Planetary Health, Environmental Health Policies
Literature:	This is the link to Keylinks, our online reference list.
Teaching methods:	Assignment(s) Work in workgroup(s) Lecture(s) Paper(s) Problem Based Learning Presentation(s) Skills Training(s)
Assessments methods:	Assignment Attendance Computertest Portfolio Presentation Written exam

This page was last modified on:3-5-2023