International Health Studies

Are you a Health Care student looking to broaden your horizons? Do you want to become an internationally trained health care professional? And are you keen to acquire intercultural skills? Then our International Health Studies (IHS) minor program is for you!

Admission

To enter the IHS minor program, you have to: 

• Have the propaedeutic diploma.  
• Have to be an undergraduate student of:
  
  • Nursing 
  • BMH
  • MiZ 
  • Physiotherapy* 
  • Cesar Therapy 
  • Skin Therapy 
  • Dental Hygiene 
  • Optometry 
  • Orthoptics 
  • Speech Therapy 
  • Applied Pharmacology 

*The numbers are fixed and connected to availability of internship places.

All students have to find an internship or workplace themselves. The coordinator can help with this. The coordinator is Edwin.Hagenbeek@hu.nl 

This minor is suitable for part-time students, although it will be a challenge to arrange it because all classes are on several weekdays.

The Examination Board determines which minors do not have a higher professional education level and/or have an unacceptable overlap with the compulsory curriculum of your own study program. Check at the page Not allowed minor courses under your institute which minors are not allowed. 

Content

This intensive program gives you a solid theoretical basis on the latest insights into intercultural health care provision, in which you will apply for a ten-week internship/project of your choice. The course will start with 6 weeks of lectures and workshops in Utrecht, then a 10-week learning/work experience abroad and a 4-week cooling down period in Utrecht.

You will have lectures, tutorials and assignments, and work on a portfolio, a personal development plan and a final report. You also give presentations to your fellow students, anchoring your learning experience.

Learning objectives

Learning outcomes of part 1:

1. You develop cultural self-awareness including cultural specific information
2. You practice becoming open minded reflecting critically on your experiences
3. You practice gaining self-knowledge; what is important for you, why and where does it come from?
4. You evaluate your own competences and create a developmental plan for personal and professional progress over time
5. You know what it means to start your own internship and prepare this by having knowlede of the country, the culture, health care system and the organisation.
6. You will reflect on the competences you need to develop to be a intercultural competent health care worker.

Learning outcomes of part 2:  

1. You behave and communicate effectively and appropriately (based on your intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes) to achieve your goals during the internship.  
2. You show in actual context, adaptability in communication and behavior to a new cultural environment.  
3. You are flexible in selecting and using appropriate communication styles and behaviors and show cognitive flexibility in actual context.  
4. You are able to use an ethno-relative view in an intercultural situation.  

Courses

The program takes place during one semester (two blocks) and consists of the following courses: 

The IHS program is offered in both the autumn and spring semester. 

The program starts with a theoretical part, lasting six weeks. Afterwards, you will leave for your project or traineeship/work experience, for ten weeks or a minimum of 40 days. The program finishes with a four-week theoretical part during which you reflect on your experiences.   

Assessment

You will get several written assignments, make a portfolio and have an assessment to tell about your development.

Literature

The following literature will be discussed during the minor: 

• Nunez, R. (2020) Intercultural Competence in health care. Embracing diversity in patient-centered care. Assen; van Gorcum. 

Schedule

This program starts twice a year, in September and February. The class schedule is variable. It will be announced around August (Block AB) and January (Block C/D). All classes are on weekdays. There are also evening classes in this minor. 

For part-time students it is possible to participate in this minor, although it will be a challenge to arrange it because all classes are on several weekdays. We must discuss tailor-made possibilities for these students.

With the exception of the first teaching period of the academic year (starting September), the lesson and test schedules are always posted on Mijn Rooster four weeks before the start of each teaching period. The schedule for the first teaching period of the academic year can be found on the site three weeks before the start. The most up-to-date schedule is always visible on Mijn Rooster. 

At HU, full-time education may be scheduled between 08:30 and 19:00. 

Additional costs

Students mostly have to arrange the internship themselves, we do have contacts, but taking initiative is part of this minor. The costs of travelling and staying abroad, are not included in this minor.