The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in association with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative of the United Nations, will launch a free massive online open course (MOOC) on global public health. The 10-day course kicks off on March 2, 2015 and will be led by Professor K Srinath Reddy, president, PHFI and global experts.

The course introduces students to the science, practice, and policy environment of global public health, and highlights its centrality in the broader framework of sustainable development.

According to Professor Reddy who is the lead instructor on the course, the initiative would bring in best in class knowledge and practice from leading experts on important public health topics and areas that need greater attention, deliberation and intervention.

“This course has been specially designed to meet the requirements and enhance knowledge of professionals and students in the global context but particularly brings in the perspective of low and middle income countries. We would like these courses to contribute to the comprehensive understanding of the interdisciplinary field of public health, and to encourage a global dialogue on promoting good health for all”.

Further, the 10-day course will cover a broad range of topics, starting with an introduction to the basic tenets of public health, and the importance of social determinants. It would discuss the global burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and highlight the appropriate public health responses. The course also looks into the importance of health systems in promoting the health of populations, and the different methods employed around the world to achieve universality in access to affordable health services of quality. The course also addresses new and emerging issues including details on global public health.

The syllabus of the course is structured around a series of pre-recorded lectures, readings, quizzes and an interactive discussion forum. Each of these course components can be completed at a time that is convenient for the student. All students who successfully complete the course requirements will receive a digital certificate of completion signed by Professor K. Srinath Reddy. Students who participate actively on the forum discussions will receive certificates of completion with distinction.