Health Workforce Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities  

Module Description

This module explores workforce sustainability as a cornerstone of resilient health systems.

It analyses forecasting models, labour market dynamics and mobility, regulation and governance, financing and productivity, retention and wellbeing, team-based care, task-shifting, and digital health enablers.

Students will learn design evidence-based, context-sensitive workforce strategies for ministries, systems, and large providers. 

Entry Requirements

Candidates who apply for this course will require to be: 

• Professionals whose academic studies include 1st cycle (undergraduate and Bachelor’s levels) and 2nd cycle (Graduate and Masters level) qualifications totalling not less than 240 ECTS in areas related to healthcare and management.  Any other professional who meets the Level requirements (L7 + L6 to a total of 240 ECTS) coming from a different area, but has 7 years of experience in a managerial position will also be considered. 

OR 

• A Level 7 Master’s Qualification (90 ECTS) related to healthcare and management, together with a Level 5 Higher Diploma equivalent to 120 ECTS and a minimum of 5 years working experience in Management within a specialised sector/area which is directly related to and relevant to the subject being researched in the Doctoral Programme.   

RPL will be considered for applicants with other high-level qualifications (e.g. OTHM L8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice). The maximum number of credits that may be gained through RPL will not exceed 50%. For more information regarding IDEA College’s RPL Policy and Process, please refer to: https://mt.ideaeducation.com/app/uploads/2024/07/Doc_007_24-Recognition-of-Prior-Learning-Policy-and-Process.pdf 

Students whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate English language capability at IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent by presenting evidence (formal certificate) of an achieved pass at that level.   

Target Audience

The target group for this doctorate programme consists of experienced professionals and senior practitioners working in, or aspiring to work in, advanced leadership, policy, and management roles in the health and social care sectors. Participants are expected to be mid-career or senior-level professionals with substantial practical experience, holding a relevant Master’s degree (MQF Level 7 or equivalent), and seeking to progress to doctoral-level study (MQF Level 8). 

Specifically, the programme is designed for: 

• Health professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, allied health practitioners) who have moved into leadership, governance, or policy-making roles.
• Senior managers and executives in hospitals, health systems, public health agencies, and NGOs.
• Policy advisors, regulators, and government officials engaged in health strategy, workforce planning, and global health governance.
• Academics, researchers, and consultants seeking to deepen their expertise in health policy or workforce sustainability.
• International learners, including those from low- and middle-income countries, who wish to strengthen their capacity to respond to global health and workforce challenges. 

This diverse learner group will bring interdisciplinary and international perspectives, fostering a community of interprofessional practice aligned with IDEA College’s teaching philosophy. 

Career Paths

This programme is not designed to prepare students for a specific warranted profession or regulated occupation. Instead, it develops the advanced knowledge, skills, and competences outlined in the curriculum, equipping participants for senior leadership, management, policy, and consultancy roles across the health and social care sectors. 

The programme is targeted at: 

• Health and social care professionals (including doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, social workers) who have moved or wish to move into leadership and policy-making positions. 
• Managers and executives in hospitals, primary care systems, elderly care organisations, and NGOs.
• Policy advisors and strategists in health ministries, regulatory agencies, and international organisations.
• Consultants and researchers specialising in health policy, global health governance, or workforce planning. 

Graduates will be well-prepared for: 

• Senior management and leadership positions within hospitals, elderly care organisations, and wider health systems.
• Roles such as policy analysts, health system planners, or workforce strategists in government or international agencies.
• Consultancy and advisory roles within think tanks, NGOs, and intergovernmental organisations.
• Academic or applied research roles in universities, research institutes, and policy bodies. 

Assessment

Participants will be required to undertake a mini study, choosing one title from a list offered by the module’s lecturer/tutor. The chosen title will be contextualised to the student’s professional or research specialisation, in consultation with the lecturer/tutor and the College’s Quality Assurance Lead. 

Participants are expected to show a comprehensive and critical grasp of workforce sustainability challenges, producing logical, evidence-based arguments supported by high-quality scholarly and policy literature. At doctoral level, students are required to display critical originality by analysing complex workforce trends, evaluating policy and governance frameworks, and designing innovative solutions to workforce sustainability issues. 

Findings and conclusions must be communicated with a defined audience and purpose in mind, evidencing advanced scholarly practice, academic writing at Level 8, and academic honesty. Student output may take the form of a strategic health workforce report designed to assess students’ ability to critically evaluate health workforce policies, apply forecasting models, and develop context-sensitive strategies for health workforce sustainability and resilience. 

Formative assessment opportunities are embedded into the module through group case study workshops, peer-to-peer contributions, and tutor feedback during the weekend school and online sessions.