Health Systems, Policy, and Innovation MSc module information

This compulsory module introduces students to the complexity of health systems and policy, and their dynamic, socially embedded nature. Students will learn about key health system frameworks and goals. They will critically engage with change in health systems as complex adaptive systems, and understand the mechanisms of innovation and learning within them. The module also introduces students to the foundations of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) and strategies for strengthening Learning Health Systems and evidence-informed policy. 

Throughout the module, students will engage with case-based learning, problem-solving exercises, and reflective discussions, applying theoretical concepts to real-world health system challenges. By the end of the module, students will have developed a strong foundation in systems thinking, core health systems frameworks, and interdisciplinary research approaches, equipping them to critically analyse and contribute to health system transformation.

Methods of assessment:

1. 100% Individual project

This module equips you with the critical thinking and assessment skills necessary to engage with leadership and strategic management theoretical literature. The module will draw on a range of academic research in leadership to develop your understanding of different theoretical perspectives of complex managerial concepts. Furthermore, through academic research, you will explore a range of strategic and operational questions, reflecting on best practices and academic research in relation to decision-making.

A significant component of this module explores the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare leadership. You will analyse how AI-driven decision-making, predictive analytics, and financial forecasting influence strategic leadership in healthcare organisations. Topics such as AI in risk mitigation, crisis leadership, and operational efficiency will be examined through real-world case studies.

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, this module adopts a reflective, action-learning approach. You will develop an awareness of your values and purpose as a leader, assess your personal development needs, and explore how they shape your leadership style. You will also explore the importance of leadership in defining and communicating an organisation’s purpose, vision, mission, culture, and values.

Furthermore, you will gain insights into how strategic leaders set the direction of an organisation in an AI-driven healthcare environment.
You will develop an understanding of leaders' roles in relation to boards, organisational governance, strategic planning, financial sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. The module will also address integrating AI tools in strategic decision-making, including AI-powered financial forecasting, predictive analytics, and market analysis.

This module will explore the importance of ethical leadership, role modelling, personal presence, mental toughness, resilience, and reflective practice. In particular, it will examine the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by AI in healthcare leadership, including AI-driven bias, data privacy concerns, and responsible AI adoption.

This module will bring key principles and theories of strategic leadership and management to life through guest speakers who share their leadership journeys. Lectures will include discussions on AI-driven leadership strategies, value-driven leadership, leading with integrity, entrepreneurial leadership, authentic leadership, and cross-cultural leadership. You will be challenged to think critically about these various approaches and paradigms, particularly in the context of AI’s transformative role in healthcare.

Methods of assessment:

1. 30% Group activity
2. 70% Coursework

Module Catalogue

In this module, students will explore the rapidly expanding sectors to the Digital Health Economy. Through this exploration, students will be exposed to the various developing subdomains such as concepts of Big Data for Medicine, AgeTech, FemTech, EMR, and blockchain applications. Through this module, students will acquire a clear understanding of the development of digital IP, the development cycle abyss, and areas of active innovation within each area. These topics will be presented in a way that the learner would be able to critique future products and assess properly what stage they are at, and what methods would be needed to move this idea over the abyss to a function product. This process will be covered in multiple parts to cover the development of data analysis software, database development and curation, digital health (telemedicine) and robotics and other device development. 

Aims of the module 

• Engage with the current landscape for digital development including the background of software as medical device, database development, digital healthcare and traditional hardware device development
• Understand the principles, processes and contexts of harnessing big data,
• Understand the landscape regarding development and protection of intellectual property and copyright in the digital age, and the frameworks which inform these
• Understand the principles and processes of hardware and software development,  commercial development in both and how the entrepreneurship environments for each are similar and different
• Develop their capacity to identify, evaluate and integrate digital developments within an enterprise scenario 

Methods of assessment:

1. 30% Group activity
2. 70% Dissertations, extended projects and projects

Module Catalogue

This module will introduce students to the core debates and literature in the fields of health policy and governance. This module enables students to develop a critical understanding of the evolution of health policy and governance across different parts of the world. Students will also gain insights into how innovative policy options and breakthroughs in health reforms were achieved in historical contexts, offering inspiration for addressing contemporary and future challenges.

By broadly engaging with political, social, economic, and other contextual factors, the module will equip students with a profound understanding of the diverse and specific characteristics of health policy and governance, both at the national and international levels. 

Furthermore, this module introduces students to understand policy change and governance through the lens of stakeholder analysis and power structures. It explores how different stakeholders interact within political and institutional frameworks to shape health policy outcomes. By examining the distribution of power, influence strategies, and decision-making processes, students will develop analytical skills to assess policy dynamics critically. Through case studies and theoretical perspectives, the module equips students with the tools to navigate complex policy environments and understand the role of power in driving or hindering innovations in health policy and governance.

Methods of assessment:

1. 40% Oral presentation
2. 60% Report

The Changing Health Systems module will offer an overview of the patterns of health system financing and delivery around the world as the international community moves towards the global goal of Universal Health Coverage. The module will introduce you to methods of financing services, and also to some of the evidence around delivery mechanisms in public, non-profit and private health services while evaluating these in terms of outcomes such as improved health, efficiency and equity. Recognising health as one of humanity’s most complex knowledge systems, you will discuss the political and socio-economic context that shapes attempts to change health systems.

Subjects covered include:

• Health systems frameworks and systems thinking as applied to health
• How health policy change: drivers, actors and processes
• How health systems are financed
• Primary health care
• Public-private interactions in health systems delivery

Methods of assessment:

1. 30% Group activity
2. 70% Dissertations, extended projects, and projects

Module Catalogue

This module explores cutting-edge healthcare innovations and examines their transformative impact on the health sector, addressing both the opportunities and challenges they present. Through engagement with change management theory and design thinking principles, you will develop critical skills to evaluate and implement organisational transformations in healthcare.

The module is designed to encourage you to think critically about innovation by providing a comprehensive understanding of both opportunities and challenges. You will master innovation pathways through human-centered design thinking methodology to create effective solutions in healthcare, and learn more about how to integrate new technologies like AI and effective methodologies into existing healthcare practices. The module features distinguished speakers from healthcare organisations/bodies and industry leaders who are shaping the future of healthcare through ground breaking work in artificial intelligence (AI), wearables, assistive technologies, virtual reality, and telemedicine. In addition to understanding the work of these healthcare innovators, you will learn how to introduce innovation, evaluate different options, understand frameworks for change, undertake assessments, and design effective implementation strategies.

To maximise the benefits of innovation - including improved patient outcomes and enhanced productivity - the module emphasises change management principles and human-centered design thinking approaches. You will develop a holistic perspective on innovation as a leader, thereby considering how new innovations impact policies, regulations, and diverse stakeholders like patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The iterative nature of human-centered design thinking ensures continuous feedback and refinement, with special attention given to the vital role of patients as collaborators and co-developers in the innovation process.

The module highlights how successful innovation in healthcare requires coordinated change management and stakeholder engagement across all organisational levels to achieve lasting benefits. You will develop competencies as a global health leader, equipped with human-centered design thinking tools and change management approaches to guide organisational transformation, both critical leadership skills in today's world.

Methods of assessment:

1. 75% Coursework
2. 25% Group activity

Module Catalogue

This module explores the intersections between societal change, sustainability, and health systems, equipping students with critical analytical skills to assess complex global challenges. Students will examine polycrises, such as climate change, conflict, migration, and economic insecurity, and their impact on health systems. They will also engage with multi-sectoral governance approaches and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as frameworks for action. The module further introduces institutional strategies and innovations that promote sustainability, with a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in health policy and business decision-making. 

Subjects covered: 

• Environmental and Demographic Determinants of Health, including Climate Change
• Commercial and Political Determinants of Health
• Polycrises and Complex Systems Thinking
• Sustainability in Health Systems and Policy
• Multi-Sectoral Action and the SDGs
• ESG Strategies and Sustainable Health Governance
• Ethical Dilemmas and Equity in Health and Sustainability

Methods of assessment:

1. 50% Individual project
2. 50% Report

This module prepares you to approach health systems challenges with a perspective on whether and how artificial intelligence (AI) could offer unique and meaningful solutions. It will begin with a focus on data for health systems to critically evaluate the kind, quality, representativeness, accessibility, and other considerations that would be the basis for AI-driven decision-making. Recognising why these data are so important for a meaningful result of any analysis and the risks when the data are not appropriate or have other limitations will be foundational to the content for the remainder of the module. 

You will also explore an overview of the wide range of techniques available including statistical models through to deep learning and including machine learning, natural language processing, and many others. We will dissect these tools and look at their potential uses and why some are appropriate for different kinds of health systems challenges and key considerations for anyone managing change or seeking an innovative solution in order to choose the most efficient and effective tool considering trade-offs including related to cost, sustainability, acceptability in a given context, etc. 

Finally, we will delve into a set of critical policy and regulation considerations for AI and health systems and associated needs and opportunities for innovation. Some have well-established approaches and ever widening use in diverse settings while many are emerging and rapidly evolving with a host of ethical and practical considerations that do not yet have clear or widely adopted solutions. In looking at these considerations, we will explore additional examples of the potential and complexity of the influence of AI on and applications to health systems.

Methods of assessment:

1. 100% Report

In this module you will learn the importance of team dynamics and collaboration for design and innovation as you bring your learning across the programme into one of two final projects.  You will bring together key aspects of business and management that you have acquired across the programme such as strategy, project management, financing, marketing and leadership through a group project that involves conceptualising, undertaking a proof-of-concept, developing an initial business proposal, preparing an outline business case and then a detailed business case on an approved project. You will also learn how to pitch/present your ideas as part of the learning on this capstone module.

Methods of assessment:

1. 100% Group activity (2 assessments)

Module Catalogue

In this module you will have the opportunity to connect with research in an area that has piqued your curiosity in the programme. You will bring together what you have learned across the programme and through desk-based research an original piece of research. This piece of work is an opportunity for you to work independently to shape and engage on a topic that excites you. This project can be part of an enhanced synthesis of the literature, practice or an area of clinical practice. The ambition is to allow you the opportunity to identify personal areas of specialisation or interest to inform your academic skills for professional development. You will begin to work on the project in term 2 through a number of research in practice sessions to assist you with the project. 

Methods of assessment:

1. 100% Dissertations, extended projects, and projects (2 assessments)

Module Catalogue