Children on the move: addressing their health and well being challenges

Embark on a life journey and learn about prioritizing the health and well-being of mobile children in the face of present constraints and future hurdles

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CIVIS focus area
Health
Open to
  • Master's
  • PhD
Field of studies
  • Art, Design and Media
  • Law
  • Medicine and Health
  • Social Science and humanities
Type
  • Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)
Course dates
29 April 2024 - 2 June 2024

Timely topic aiming to the improvement of health care services and clinical transition issues that need to be addressed to migrant population (focus on maternal, newborn and child health). The project has the potential to foster knowledge and improve attitudes and skills in relation to the needs of this population. Political and law related barriers may decrease the impact. The project involves academics and different stakeholders promoting a multidisciplinary and co-design approach methodology. A blended learning method will be used with a focus on strengthening knowledge and the skills of participants involving Participatory, Learning & Action process.

In all physical and virtual components, representatives from refugees NGOs as well as international organizations such as IOM, UNCHR and UNICEF will be involved.

Main topics addressed

  • Timely topic: Focus on improving healthcare services and addressing clinical transition issues for migrant populations, with a special emphasis on maternal, newborn, and child health.
  • Knowledge and attitude improvement: The project aims to enhance knowledge and improve attitudes and skills related to the healthcare needs of children migrant populations.
  • Political and legal barriers: Acknowledgment of potential obstacles related to political and legal issues that might limit the project's impact.
  • Increasing awareness: Despite barriers, the project has the potential to raise awareness about these issues and contribute to some positive changes.
  • Multidisciplinary and co-design approach: Utilization of a collaborative approach involving academics and various stakeholders.
  • Blended learning method: Implementation of a blended learning approach, emphasizing knowledge and skill enhancement through a Participatory, Learning & Action process.

Learning outcomes

By completing this course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to the improvement of health and social services for migrant children and address the challenges they face such as:

  • Cross-Cultural Competence: understanding the unique health and well-being challenges faced by migrant children from different cultural backgrounds;
  • Maternal and Child Health Expertise: gaining in-depth knowledge of maternal and child health issues specific to migrant populations;
  • Clinical Transition Skills: learning how to navigate the healthcare system and provide seamless clinical transitions for migrant children;
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: collaborating effectively with professionals from various fields to address complex health challenges;
  • Policy Awareness: understanding the political and legal barriers that affect migrant children's healthcare and well-being;
  • Advocacy and Awareness: developing the skills to advocate for improved healthcare services and raise awareness about the needs of migrant children;
  • Research and Data Analysis: acquiring research skills to investigate health disparities and analyze data related to migrant populations;
  • Cultural Sensitivity: cultivating cultural sensitivity and empathy to provide patient-centered care;
  • Problem-Solving Abilities: enhancing problem-solving skills to tackle current and future health challenges faced by migrant children;
  • Blended Learning Proficiency: familiarity with blended learning methods, including Participatory, Learning & Action processes, for continuous education and skill development.
Dates: 29 April - 2 June 2024 Total workload: 180 hours
Format: Blended ECTS: 6*
Location: Athens, Greece Language: English (B2)
Contact: Prof. Emmanouil Pikoulis, Dean of School of Health Science, NKUA  

*Recognition of ECTS depends on your home university.

Physical mobility

The physical mobility part of this course will take place in Athens, Greece, between 15-19 April 2024. Study visits will be organized in 2 refugees accommodation facilities (Schisto & Ritsona). The session will also include the approach of subjects such as:

  • Risk factors prior to the start of migration, in the child’s home or previous environment, during the various phases of the migration journey, and then during the multiple stages of arrival, resettlement, and integration or assimilation (i.e. poverty and other inequalities,  gender-based discrimination and violence, (c) armed conflicts and political violence, disruption of family systems, demographic shifts to an increasingly youth-dominated population);
  • Legal, social, cultural, and educational frameworks directly affecting children on the move;
  • Children’s right to basic services regardless of immigration or documentation status;
  • Real life case studies from all around the world demonstrating context-based challenges faced by children on the move, as well as strengths and gaps in policies and programming.

Virtual part

The online part of the course starts on 29 April 2024 and covers themes such as:

  • History and socioanthropological perpectives on children migration journey;
  • Basic health care requirements for migrant populations (mothers and their children);
  • Prenatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity embedded at the very fact of migration;
  • Challenges such as high rates of poor health care conditions,malnutrition, prevention of communicable diseases, as well as HIV/ AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases,  breast-feeding and new natal practices, healthy growth and development;
  • Mental health issues, experienced violence, addictions, and anxiety.

Requirements

This course is open to Master's and PhD students at CIVIS member universities with a high interest in health and social sciences.

Participants should have a good level of written and spoken English (B2).

 

NB: Visiting Students - Erasmus Funding Eligibility

To be eligible for your selected CIVIS programme, you must be a fully enrolled student at your CIVIS home university at the time you will be undertaking the programme. Click here to learn more about the eligibility criteria.

Students from CIVIS’ strategic partner universities in Africa cannot apply for participation in this course.

Application process

Send your application by filling in the online application form by 7 November 2023, including:

  • CV
  • Motivation letter

Applications will be evaluated based on the relevance of the CV, the motivation of the applicants, academic degree, and previous field experience with refugees populations.

Apply now

Assessment

The course assessment aims to measure participants' mastery of the subject matter, critical thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, and their capacity to address health and well-being constraints faced by migrant children. It encourages active engagement, research, and practical application of knowledge in the context of real-world challenges.

Course evaluation is based on:

  • Mandatory attendance and lively/ substantive participation in physical and virtual activities, including organized discussions;
  • Compliance to deadlines and guidelines;
  • Full compliance to respect for diversity, academic integrity and anti-plagiarism principles;
  • Delivery of final project assignments

Blended Intensive Programme

This CIVIS course is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP): a new format of Erasmus+ mobility which combines online teaching with a short trip to another campus to learn alongside students and professors across Europe. Click here to learn more about CIVIS BIPs.

GDPR Consent

The CIVIS alliance and its member universities will treat the information you provide with respect. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on our privacy practices. By applying to this course you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

Emmanouil Pikoulis - Dean of School of Health Sciences, Professor of Surgery, NKUA; Adj. Professor in Humanitarian and Catastrophe Emergency Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland; Director MSc “Global Health –Disaster Medicine”, School of Medicine, NKUA; Jean Monnet Chair in Humanitarian medicine and response.

Vana Papaevangelou - Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, NKUA.

Agis Terzidis - PhD Paediatrician; General Secretary Doctors of the World – Greece; Supervisor MSc “Global Health – Disaster Medicine”; School of Medicine, NKUA.

Eleni Kakalou - MD; MSc; Infectiologist; Scientific Associate of the MSc “Global Health - Disaster Medicine”; School of Medicine, NKUA.

Evika Karamagioli - MSc; PhD; Jurist; Scientific Associate MSc “Global Health - Disaster Medicine”; School of Medicine, NKUA.

Danilo Buonsenso - MD; PhD; Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Center for Global Health Research and Studies; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.

Talía Sainz - MD; PhD; Servicio de Pediatría Hospitalaria, Hospital Universitario Infantil La Paz, Spain.

Lena Verdeli - Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology; Founder & Director Global Mental Health Lab; Columbia University, USA.

Ozge Karadag - MD; MSPH; PhD; Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute/ Climate School, Columbia University, USA.

Véronique Flamand - Professor of Immunologie, Institut d'Immunologie Médicale, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Belgium

Mustapha Chamekh -  Professor of microbiology,  Faculty of Medicine, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium

Fabio Midulla - Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Riccardo Lubrano - Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy