Curious about merging health and technology, and creating innovative devices for the healthcare sector?
Health innovations - from ideas to impact in device development, 2 ECTS
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A short online course (2 ECTS / 4 SAQA / 4 KCAT credits) on the basics of health device development for students interested in exploring the intersection of health and technology.
This 6-week short course, with 16 hours of contact teaching, provides an introduction to health device development. Participants will gain valuable insights into the different stages of the health device development process, while being provided with a unique platform for innovative thinking in an international and transdisciplinary environment. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will serve as a use case for innovation.
The course is organised in collaboration with Moi University (Kenya) and the University of the Western Cape (South Africa). The University of Turku is responsible for course arrangements and implementation.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course:
- Student understands the basics of health device development and is able to identify the key stages involved in a development process.
- Student recognises the importance of transdisciplinary innovation in the field of health and technology, and its impact on society.
- Student understands the basic concept of design thinking and recognises how its principles and techniques can be used to generate creative ideas and solutions to complex problems in health and technology.
- Student is able to describe the feasibility and viability of innovative concepts, taking into account factors such as market demand, usability, regulations and cost-effectiveness.
- Student is able to describe the value creation potential of innovations, including their impact on healthcare outcomes, user experience, and market success.
- Student is able to communicate a concept idea in a clear and concise manner.
Target group
The course is open for all Moi, UWC and UTU master level students in the fields of biomedicine, dentistry, health sciences, medicine and technology. During the pilot round in 2023, universities might also choose to include some staff on the course. Quotas are applied to ensure an international and multidisciplinary mix of students. For more information on country specific target groups and quotas, see “Application procedures” and application links.
Delivery and study methods
- The course is delivered online and consists of synchronous and asynchronous learning sessions. Synchronous sessions are organised in Zoom. Moodle will be used as a course platform for all course communication and delivering materials.
- The course consists of lectures, group work, self-study and a learning assignment.
- Course language is English.
- The course is free of charge during the pilot round in 2023.
The course will be held in autumn 2023, from 13th September to 18th October.
- Week 37: Wednesday 13th September, 14.00-18.00*
- Week 38: Monday 18th September, 14.00-18.00*
- Week 39: Self-study
- Week 40: Monday 2nd October, 14.00-18.00*
- Week 41: Self-study
- Week 42: Wednesday 18th October, 14.00-18.00*
*14.00-18.00 in Kenya and Finland (UTC+3), 13.00-17.00 in South Africa (UTC+2)
- The course is worth 2 ECTS*, which equals 54 hours of work, including all guided study and self-study.
*2 ECTS = 4 KCAT (Kenya) credits / SAQA (South Africa) credits
Apply to the course by Wednesday 30th August 2023.
The course is limited to 45 students. 15 places will be reserved for each collaborating university, and quotas will be applied to ensure a multidisciplinary mix of students on the course. Country specific information on applying and quotas can be found via the application links below:
- Moi University (Kenya): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8O92_bpOJnB0ZcpgoUms8B-ZDAIXFvwFawja05wgQxwbLaA/viewform?usp=sf_link
- University of the Western Cape (South Africa): https://forms.gle/T29FXo4ey54Rrbax5
- University of Turku (Finland): https://link.webropol.com/s/heath-innovations
All applicants will be notified of their acceptance or rejection by Monday 4th September 2023. Students who are accepted onto the course will then receive further information and instructions on how to log in to the course learning platform (Moodle).
If you wish to cancel your place once you have been accepted onto the course, please do so by Wednesday 6th September so that we can fill the places from the waiting list. Cancellations can be made by contacting the course contact person, Desale Tewelde Kahsay (details at the bottom of this page).
- The course is assessed on a pass/fail scale. Passing the course requires attendance to lectures and successful completion of learning assignments.
- Students who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate of attendance.
- Awarding of credits is subject to the policies of each collaborating institution (for more information on the policies of each institution, please follow the application links).
- For more information on the policies of each institution, please follow the application links in “Application procedures
