090006 Global Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This course delves into key aspects of global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the developing country context and within humanitarian crisis settings. Students engage with historical and contemporary policy frameworks, social determinants of health impacting sexual and reproductive health outcomes, real world case studies, and global SRHR initiatives. Through a decolonisation lens, students explore and gain insight into the unique SRHR challenges faced in resource poor and fragile settings. Upon completion of the subject, students gain a reproductive justice focused knowledge base, valuable analytical skills, and a global perspective of SRHR, enabling them to contribute to critical dialogue and action within this important field.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Understand the importance and evolution of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) from a global perspective. |
|---|---|
| B. | Analyse the effectiveness of historical and current global policy efforts to improve health outcomes for women, girls, and vulnerable populations. |
| C. | Evaluate the unique challenges faced in delivering sexual and reproductive health services in developing countries and humanitarian crisis settings. |
| D. | Critically discuss current controversies, advocacy initiatives, and potential solutions for improving sexual and reproductive health and rights. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Are reflective critical thinkers who examine and contribute to practice, policy, and research to achieve clinical excellence and enhance health outcomes (1.0)
- Are visionary, innovative and responsive leaders (2.0)
- Are socially, culturally and ethically aware and accountable when engaging with health care consumers, families/significant others, interdisciplinary teams, communities, organisations and authorities (3.0)
- Communicate effectively and professionally in diverse and dynamic situations (4.0)
- Embody the professional qualities appropriate to the scope of their role (5.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
Orientation activities
In preparation for the session students have access to activities during orientation week. These activities are designed to introduce students to the subject and their peers and will assist students to prepare for the subject's assessment tasks.
Independent learning activities
This subject is taught using a variety of teaching and learning strategies. The strategies used emphasise active and applied approaches to developing students’ ability to gain an understanding of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) within the global community. An overarching theme of the approaches to teaching and learning is to support students to actively learn with the support of a facilitator who can assist and coach them. Understanding and critical thinking skills will be encouraged via a range of activities, including but not limited to:
- On-line resources to prepare students for active engagement with the subject content
- Thought provoking readings, videos and other activities to stimulate thinking, promote understanding and support analysis and evaluation
- Problem solving, discovery-based and critical thinking activities via a range of guided and self-directed learning opportunities
- Learning that is supported by real world examples, case studies, illustrations and data
- Real-time feedback to student responses to key online activities
- Opportunities for students to reflect on, explain and record their input under advice and guidance.
- Animation case studies and a global expert podcast created for this subject to enhance the learning experience and facilitate a deeper understanding of SRHR issues.
Readings, videos and activities will be available online relevant to the topic of the week. This will help students progress through the subject and complete assessment items effectively. The online material aims to enhance student’s understanding of the topic or delve deeper into a more specific area, compare experiences and ideas with others and gain feedback. Information and links to learning activities can be accessed via Canvas.
Zoom meetings
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled Zoom meetings as they will provide opportunities for group activities, discussion, self-assessment, peer review and formative feedback from the subject coordinator and the teaching team. Additionally, they will also help students prepare for the subject’s assessment tasks. The schedule for this subject’s zoom meetings is below in the program section.
Feedback
Feedback in this subject takes several forms including self-assessment, peer review, automatic feedback from interactive activities and the teaching team. Formative feedback throughout the subject aims to increase the student’s performance in summative assessments.
Original animation case studies
As a learning activity, original animation case studies have been specifically created for this subject. The three short animations follow a young woman in the Pacific Islands and her experiences with sexual and reproductive health in the developing country context, a humanitarian crisis setting, and as a SRHR advocate. The case studies follow the learning progression of the subject and are an innovative and unique way for students to reflect on global considerations and to gain a deeper understanding of SRHR in low resource and fragile settings.
Global SRHR expert podcast
To compliment student learning activities, a podcast has been specifically created for this subject. Five experts from around the world have shared their experiences working in a variety of SRHR related areas including: SRHR in developing countries, SRHR in humanitarian crisis settings, gender and global health, and SRHR advocacy. The podcast interviews provide students with the opportunity to learn from experts as well as facilitating a real-world context that complements their SRHR learning activities.
Content (topics)
- Overview of Global Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights
- Global SRHR policies
- Social deterninants of SRHR and reproductive justice
- SRHR in developing countries
- SRHR in humanitarian crises
- The Minimum Initial Service Package for SRH in crises
- Maternal mortality and morbidity statistics and other global SRHR statistics
- Controversy, Advocacy, and the Path to SRHR for All
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Commentary Piece
| Intent: | The purpose of this assessment is to consider how global polices have impacted the evolution of SRHR over the last several decades. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and B This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0 and 2.0 |
| Type: | Essay |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | 500-800 words |
Assessment task 2: Case Study
| Intent: | The purpose of this assessment is for students to reflect, explore and analyse SRHR issues within a specific developing country context or humanitarian crisis setting. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
Assessment task 3: Policy Proposal Presentation
| Intent: | The purpose of this assessment is for students to craft a persuasive SRHR policy proposal addressing a specific issue that is supported by thorough analysis and advocates for improved SRH outcomes for a defined population. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 5 - 7 minute oral presentation with PowerPoint slides and script |
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
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Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
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