POPLHLTH 311 : Shaping Health Policy

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Investigates recent changes to the ways in which governments seek to intervene to improve a population's health. NZ case studies will be used to illustrate the interrelationships between research, policy and practice in a devolved health system and the changing relationships between government agencies and health providers.

Course Overview

What are the key things that shape whether or not New Zealand has a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, whether or not a new cancer drug is publicly-funded, or how health workforce shortages are addressed? Policy is about what governments do (and about what they don't do). This means we need to understand how values, research and interests of many groups and organisations (not just those that are part of government), shape the decisions that are and are not made. The course provides the opportunity to appraise specific policy options, and how to evaluate whether or not policy initiatives are successful. The concepts and insights of policy studies are useful in understanding the policy issues that are of major concern to those interested in public health and health care services. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: POPLHLTH 202

Course Contacts

Prof Tim Tenbensel
Course Director
t.tenbensel@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate understanding of the roles of different policy actors (political parties, government organisations, interest groups, non-government organisations) in the development and implementation of policy. (Capability 2.1 and 3.1)
  2. Conduct independent research into New Zealand health policy issues (Capability 3.2, 4.2, 5.2 and 8.2)
  3. Describe and evaluate the range of stakeholder perspectives on specific health policy issues, and explain how and why these perspectives differ (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)
  4. Critically evaluate how health policies are implemented (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2 and 8.2)
  5. Demonstrate a capacity to apply key concepts covered in the course to specific New Zealand health policy topics. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1 and 8.2)
  6. Critically appraise and evaluate specific health policy options (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Policy Issue Report 30% Individual Coursework
Policy Options Briefing 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Policy Issue Report
Policy Options Briefing
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Reading lists include essential readings for each week's tutorial, and suggested readings that will assist in the preparation of assignments.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The course content and assessment structure were changed in 2023 (a new Module 2 was introduced). This change has now stabilised and I will wait at least one more iteration of the course before reviewing structure and assessment again.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.