One Health International Summer Course
Course content
The course is a collaboration between the University of
Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Technical University of Denmark
(DTU) promoting transdisciplinary approaches in the fields of
health, food and veterinary science, and associated applied
technical and social sciences.
The course comprises two modules:
a) a 5-week e-learning module, and
b) a 1 1/2 week on-campus module in Copenhagen, Denmark.
One Health is a concept that acknowledges and aims to provide efficient solutions to multifaceted global challenges to human, animal, and environmental health through cross-disciplinary research, education, and collaboration between relevant institutions and stakeholders. One Health not only implies the involvement of different sciences including their associations but also encourages coordination, communication, data sharing, and joint efforts between the involved parties. In many countries, this requires developing new ways of handling challenges, such as food security and safety, emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial and drug resistance, climate change, and different types of environmental pollutants. Denmark has a long tradition of using One Health approaches and is among the world leaders in pursuing good solutions to several of these challenges. Therefore, the collaboration between the two universities offers an outstanding environment for the course.
This One Health International Summer Course provides insight into, and a critical overview of, the methods used in the One Health approach by drawing on the successful Danish achievements characterized by cross-disciplinary collaboration between public authorities, public administrations, research bodies, and industry sectors. This includes visiting national and international stakeholders or organizations.
General course objectives:
The course aims to provide participants with a background for understanding the concepts of One Health and a thorough introduction to challenges and opportunities related to the One Health approach. By mixing basic concepts and illustrative examples (e.g., zoonoses, drug resistance, chemical contaminants, etc.), the participants are introduced to emission assessments, sustainability concepts and initiatives, epidemiology, source tracking, risk and disease burden assessments, intervention options, and cross-disciplinary prevention and control scenarios. Cross-cutting issues, such as critical thinking, system thinking and risk communication, will be included in all themes addressing health concerning humans, animals, and the environment. The acquired knowledge can be used to improve risk management decision-making and facilitate the implementation of solutions to global human, animal, and environmental challenges.
Learning objectives:
After the course, the participants will
Knowledge:
- Understand the One Health approach and its cross-sectoral perspectives
- Know and be able to describe One Health cases within various areas
- Know of different emission assessments and sustainability approaches/initiatives
- Know of the main methods to analyse the impact on human and animal health issues related to microbial and chemical contamination
- Know of the principles for prioritising intervention between different health issues
- Know of the principles for identifying methods for the prevention and control of infectious diseases, food safety threats, antimicrobial resistance and dietary health risks
- Know of the advantages and challenges of applying One Health approaches in industry and public administrations
Skills:
- Be able to apply various One Health methods to specific topics
- Be able to analyse, discuss and respond to One Health issues
- Be able to identify the roles, responsibilities and needs of key stakeholders in One Health challenges
Competences:
- Be able to identify challenges that need One Health approaches to be solved or mitigated and be able to contribute critically to the implementation of the One Health approach when needed.
- Be a valuable collaborator to stakeholders in One Health challenges by being aware of the core competencies that each participant brings into the One Health collaborative groups.
Active participation in the e-learning module is a prerequisite
for on-campus participation.
During the e-learning part, course participants will get familiar
with One Health topics through theory and reading material,
exercises, and practical examples. The e-learning will focus on
introducing methods commonly applied to understand and manage One
Health challenges. Participants will discuss One Health challenges
in their own countries, and the course will be a good opportunity
to expand professional networks. The e-learning module includes
quizzes after each module and an interactive discussion forum.
On-campus learning is characterised by short introductions and
in-depth discussions on one or more broad One Health topics.
Participants will work in groups on selected cases, where the
theory and acquired methods will be applied. Each group presents
its results to the rest of the participants as the basis for plenum
discussions.
There will be social arrangements in some afternoons or evenings
depending on the course-participants’ interests and initiative.
As the target group spans from Master’s students to postgraduates
working in, for example, public health, food and/or veterinary
science or administration, and agricultural or food industries,
there will be a balanced focus on knowledge sharing and theoretical
and practical exercises and discussions.
The teachers and instructors mainly come from UCPH and DTU, but
professionals from other national and international institutions of
higher education and research, relevant administrative bodies or
the industrial sectors with specific international One Health
competencies and experience are invited as guest
lecturers.
Will be partly provided and partly searched for by the course participants during the course.
Mandatory Prerequisites: The course is relevant for master- and PhD students and postgraduates (employees) in the public health, food, veterinary and environmental sectors.
Completed BSc degree
Please find application form at the summer course web page: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/summercourses/one-health
The application deadline is 1st April 2025.
- ECTS
- 5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Practical oral examinationPractical written examination
- Type of assessment details
- Practical oral examination (group-work presentations during the on-campus/second part of the course), practical written self-reflection assignment on the last day of the course.
- Exam registration requirements
-
Active participation in group work and evaluation of the oral presentations and attendance in at least 80 percent of the course is required.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- passed/not passed
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Internal Censorship
- Exam period
-
Final course day (August 20th, 2025)
Criteria for exam assessment
To achieve the grade passed, the student shall (at an adequate level) be able to:
Knowledge
- Describe the One Health concept and its cross-sectorial perspectives
- Describe One Health cases within various areas
- Describe main methods to analyse the impact on human and animal health issues related to microbial and chemical contamination
- Describe the principles for prioritising intervention between different health issues
- Describe the principles for identifying methods for prevention and control of infectious diseases, food safety threats, antimicrobial resistance and chemical toxins in food
- Describe the advantages and challenges of applying One Health approaches in industry and public administrations
Skills:
- Be able to apply various One Health methods to specific topics
- Be able to analyse, discuss and respond to One Health issues
- Be able to identify the roles, responsibilities and needs of key stakeholders in One Health challenges
Competences:
- Be able to identify challenges that need One Health approaches to be solved or mitigated and be able to contribute critically to the implementation of the One Health approach when needed.
- Be a valuable collaborator to stakeholders in One Health challenges by being aware of the core competencies that each participant brings into the One Health collaborative groups.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 12
- Preparation
- 24
- Theory exercises
- 32
- E-Learning
- 70
- English
- 138
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SVEK13040U
- ECTS
- 5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Placement
- Summer
- Schedulegroup
-
a) a 5 weeks e-learning module from 26th of May – 28th of June 2025 and
b) a 1 1/2 week on-campus module from 13th – 20th August 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark. - Capacity
- 80 participants
- Studyboard
- The Study Board for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Beate Conrady
(4-6768747345787a736933707a336970)
Main responsible
Responsible:
UCPH: Professor Beate Conrady
DTU: Professor Tine Hald
Teacher
Scientists from UCPH and DTU, national institutions, the private sector and international organisations.
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