Introduction to the topic
One of the biggest challenges to the healthcare sector – both currently and in the years to come – is the shortage of health professionals. Healthcare employers increasingly recruit health professionals from abroad to solve staff shortages. Consequently, the number of staff increases, but the workplace also becomes more multi-cultural than before and this may challenge the existing staff who may feel that their workplace culture is being “pushed.” Also, the new international colleagues may struggle with unfamiliar norms, communication styles, and inclusion, complicating their integration.
This project will investigate the (inter)cultural elements of this strategy to address staff shortages in the healthcare sector and compare the Danish and US settings. The project will span several semesters, with each term structured around specific tasks to ensure you gain in-depth knowledge of the subject and develop research skills relevant to that term’s objectives.
Project details
The goal of this summer research project is to write a project proposal for future projects that will be conducted at DIS. The proposal will be based on a literature review and an assessment of relevant methods, scope, and processes for conducting an empirical study. Part of the summer Research Assistant role will be to help identify the most relevant and impactful questions to explore, such as:
- What does a large intake of staff from other cultures mean for the work environment at healthcare workplaces, considering factors such as communication dynamics, teamwork efficiency, job satisfaction, and patient care outcomes?
- How do colleagues and leadership address the increasing numbers of socio-cultural meetings – if at all – at the healthcare workplace?
- And what may be the best ways to integrate intercultural understanding and communication into healthcare management?
Summer Research Assistants will:
- Gain insight into different cultures, intercultural understanding, and leadership and management strategies for healthcare staff
- Learn how to develop a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary research proposal —from concept to research design—while building a critical understanding of relevant methods and data in this field
- Contribute to a research proposal on a highly relevant health policy topic
Research Assistantship Hours
You will spend 180 hours directly engaged in research, together with 20 hours in co-curricular activities, during your Research Assistantship.
Research hours may also not be distributed evenly across week. There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistants are expected to spend a few more hours – and then possibly a few less – another week, to reflect the individual research project and process.
Field Studies: Culture & Language
As a co-curricular complement to your summer research, you will meet every Wednesday, together with faculty from the DIS European Humanities program, for a 6-week introduction to culture and language in Copenhagen.
Syllabus
The syllabus for this course is currently under development. A draft syllabus will be posted here as soon as it is available.
Prerequisites
One research methods course, and one year of either psychology, game design, or media studies, all at university level.
Additional application required
You will need to submit an additional research application through the Student Registration in order to enroll in this course.
Before you submit your research application, you must already be admitted to DIS.
All application materials must be submitted by 23:59 Central European Time on March 15.
Faculty
Lone Bilde
Faculty“M.Sc. (Economics and Languages) 1993, B.Sc. (Economics and Languages), 1988, Bi-lingual corrrespondant (French), Copenhagen Business School, Completed 8 of10 modules of BA in Leadership, 2012, Copenhagen Business College. Postgraduate education in health economics, epidemiology, measurement of health-related quality of life, and (bio) statistics.Lone is an experienced consultant, advisor and leader of health care research projects. Her area of expertise is health economics, epidemiology, financing, organization, and the management of the health sector, including health economics evaluation. She has carried out several research projects for – and together with – multiple stakeholders in Denmark as well as internationally. She has held senior positions at the Danish Institute for Health Services Research (DSI), the Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research (KORA), the Danish Institute for Applied Social Research (VIVE), Novo Nordisk, Nycomed, and the Danish Cancer Society. “
More information about your Research Assistantship
Learn more about the Labs, Research, and Practicums Summer Session.