Interdisciplinary Project
Full course description
During period 1, 2 and 4 HDT students will work on a module overarching interdisciplinary project in parallel to ongoing modules. Within this project they work for a longer period of time (24 weeks) in groups of 3-4 students on authentic cases within learning communities and living labs of healthcare institutions, the industry or research institutes. By means of these authentic cases, students build upon the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the modules and put these into practice.
The authentic cases within the learning communities and living labs all address interdisciplinary challenges related to a (data-driven) digital technology in healthcare. By working on these assignments, students will learn how to actually apply the technical knowledge (learning line 1) as well as the frameworks and models for digital technology adoption and implementation (learning line 2). Students will learn to collaborate in teams and communicate effectively towards different stakeholders. In addition, they will learn how project findings can be disseminated and shared in a comprehensive way to the proper audience. In doing all this, the module overarching interdisciplinary project aims to prepare students in practice for an interdisciplinary professional career as bridge builder.
The project will be accompanied by supporting practical training covering different topics, including programming in Python, design thinking, co-creation, project management, business modelling, and stakeholder communication and engagement. Students have to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and report on their progress on the development of the competencies in a portfolio, using multi-source feedback.
Course objectives
The specific project objectives are:
Expert
The student shows to:
- Apply theories and frameworks related to health(care) and to technology and data science to their project assignment and can readily apply this in the correct context as a bridge-builder between these fields;
- Conduct a project assignment within a healthcare organization, research, institute or industry bridging the gap between healthcare and digital technology and data science to improve health and access to healthcare for clients/patients;
- Take into account the role of culture for a successful digital health innovation;
- Apply the regulatory framework (national vs. international) with respect to data and technology;
- Consider ethical challenges arising from conducting their project assignment.
Investigator
The student shows to:
- Formulate research question(s) that align with the assignment;
- Choose and describe the appropriate research approach and appropriate measurements/instruments to assess the formulated research question(s);
- Apply existing norms and guidelines and their application for digital innovations in conducting the assignment;
- Evaluate critically which facilitates the digital innovation of the assignment;
- Evaluate and consider different stakeholder perspectives when conducting an assignment;
- Apply co-creation techniques to gain insight into different interests of stakeholders.
Communicator
The student shows to:
- Play in their project a bridge builder role in communication and cooperation between the domains of health, data science, information technology and between healthcare professionals, clients/patients within the organization;
- Clearly formulate and justify the project decisions when conducting the project;
- Unite different stakeholders using appropriate and understandable language;
- Possesses excellent communication skills in spoken and written language with fellow experts, stakeholders, laymen and other third parties about elements of, developments within and research concerning the project.
- Bridge between different perspectives using appropriate matters of communication;
- Convince different stakeholders with well-founded and appropriately formulated arguments;
- Establishes effective relationships and networks, including interdisciplinary and intercultural relationships and networks, with data scientists, healthcare professionals, IT experts, lawyers, managers, administrators, clients/patients and other parties and shows to tailor the form of communication to the receiver;
- Take the lead in project to take decisions in an effective manner in collegial, interdisciplinary and intercultural partnerships;
- Respect and account for social and cultural diversity in written and oral communication.
Professional
The student shows to:
- Be aware of personal learning objectives, strengths, weaknesses, values and beliefs and biases, including the ability to reflect on these and adapt them where necessary;
- Integrate an attitude of life-long learning and knows how to act upon this, meaning knowing what is required and where this can be learned;
- Use the acquired skills in the field of health and digital transformation throughout the professional life.
Recommended reading
Depends on the project and will be provided by the hosting organisation.
- L.M.J. Hochstenbach