Sámi and Indigenous Health, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The course provides a broad introduction to Sámi and Indigenous health, with a focus on both the regional situation in Sápmi and Indigenous health globally. The course is suited for anyone with an interest in Sámi and Indigenous peoples' health. It is particularly suitable for those who work within health and healthcare systems, with public health, or in other related areas.

The course is constructed around thematic blocks. These include Sámi and Indigenous peoples' perspectives on identity, health rights, health, and health models; Sámi and Indigenous peoples' health situation today; methods and ethics in Sámi and Indigenous health research; health and healthcare systems for Sámi and Indigenous peoples; and personal treatment and power relations in healthcare encounters. Within each block, key concepts are introduced, related to empirical data, and discussed.

To conclude the course, students apply their knowledge through the development of a proposal for change with the potential to improve the health of Sámi or Indigenous peoples, within the students' own area of interest or activity.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course, the student shall be able to:

• Explain concepts and models of central importance for understanding the health of Sámi and Indigenous peoples, and their encounters with health and healthcare systems.
• Demonstrate general knowledge of different aspects of the health situation of Sámi and Indigenous peoples and be able to relate this to the health of other populations.

Skills and abilities
On completion of the course, the student shall be able to:

• Apply theoretical concepts and perspectives to analyse aspects of Sámi and Indigenous peoples' health.
• Reflect on factors that may be of importance for Sámi and Indigenous peoples' encounters with health and healthcare systems.
• Apply the knowledge gained to suggest initiatives that can positively affect the health of Sámi or Indigenous peoples.

Judgement and approach
On completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• Assess, and discuss, the importance of various measures to improve the health of Sámi and Indigenous peoples.

Required Knowledge

90 ECTS in Public Health, Health and Healthcare, sami or indigenous Studies or other discipline within social or behavioural sciences, or equivalent foreign higher education. English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 from Swedish upper-secondary education.

Form of instruction

The course is taught as online distance education. The study pace is 25%. Teaching methods are adapted to enable course participation alongside employment in health and healthcare.

The teaching consists of online lectures, pre-recorded lectures, literature studies, individual writing assignments and online group seminars. The course is taught in English. Individual course participation in Swedish may be possible to some extent.

Since the teaching takes place online, participation in the course requires access to a computer with a camera, headset with a microphone and an internet connection.

Submission of written assignments and attendance and active participation in online group seminars is mandatory. Compulsory assignments and sessions may, to some extent, be carried out in Swedish.

Examination modes

The examination on the course consists of continuous examinations during the course, a final individual assignment (writing a memorandum) and a final online seminar where the memorandum is presented and discussed.

The continuous examination consists of:

• a) Written individual reflection assignments
• b) Active participation in online group seminars

Active participation means that the student is present, actively contributes with their own opinions, reflections and questions, and tries to answer questions asked to themselves or their group.

In the final assignment (writing a memorandum), the student applies their knowledge by formulating a proposal for change with the potential to improve the health of Sámi or Indigenous peoples, within the students' own area of interest or activity. During the final online seminar, the student presents their own proposal and actively participates in the discussion of fellow students' proposals.

The course's continuous examinations (written individual reflection assignments and active participation in online group seminars) are graded with Fail (U) or Pass (G). The final assignment (including the written memorandum with a proposition for change, oral presentation of the memorandum, and active participation in the final online seminar) is graded with Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

To receive the grade Pass (G) on the course as a whole, the student must have been awarded a Pass (G) on all written individual reflection assignments and online group seminars and a Pass (G) on the final assignment. To receive the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the course as a whole, the student must have been awarded a Pass (G) on all individual reflection assignments and online group seminars and a Pass with Distinction (VG) on the final assignment.
 
A student who does not fully meet the objectives of an examination but is close to the limit for a passing grade can, after a decision by the examiner, be given the opportunity to supplement to achieve a passing grade on the course. Completion of the examination must be adapted individually based on the goal or goals that the student has not achieved and must take place within two weeks after the students have been notified of the examination results but before the next examination opportunity. It is only permitted to supplement an unsuccessful result with a pass, supplementation for higher grades is not permitted. If the student so wishes, they have the right to carry out a re-examination instead of completion and thus have the opportunity to receive a higher grade than Pass (G).

Deviations from the course syllabus' examination may be made for a student who has been subject to a decision granting pedagogical support due to a disability. Individual adaption of the examination form shall be considered based on the student's needs. The form of examination is adapted within the framework of the expected study results of the course syllabus. At the student's request, the course coordinator shall promptly decide, in consultation with the examiner, on the appropriate form of examination. The decision shall then be communicated to the student.