Teaching international health systems through experiential learning

Through a series of four experiential learning exercises students will develop a variety of skills and knowledge related to international health economics (HE). The first exercise exposes HE students to international health care data which they will use to produce a visualization. The second exercise asks students to apply econometric techniques to international health data and to think critically about relationships between life expectancy, GDP per capita and health expenditures per capita. The third exercise delves more deeply into the health systems of various countries. Students will develop knowledge of and think critically about cross-country differences that underlie the data. In the fourth and final exercise students meet with on-campus international students to discuss their respective health systems. For HE students, hearing first-hand testimonies about international health systems is an invaluable learning experience. The first three exercises provide a springboard for HE students to have a rich discussion with their international peers.