UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Template 7: Graduating Year Review Template 2014
Details
Current Year
Name of Programme
Original Programme Identifier
Name of Self-Review Coordinator
and position held
2014
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences and Master of Health Sciences
Endorsement in Men’s Health
(03)UC/09-MHealSc,PGDipHealSc/1
Dr Jeffrey Gage, Endorsement Coordinator PGDipHealSc, MHealSc Men’s
Health
1. Programme Statement
(a) Description
The endorsed Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in Men’s Health is a named qualification that uniquely identifies
graduates who work with males as specialists in their fields. Graduates with the Men’s Health endorsement will be
academically prepared to think critically and independently about men’s health. They can be expected to initiate positive
change in male health by applying their advanced knowledge and/or research skills to practice and scholarly endeavours.
This is exciting for the future of Men’s Health in New Zealand which has previously been described as providing an ‘ad
hoc’ approach to this emerging discipline compared to 11 other countries. Men’s health is not offered as a specialist
endorsement elsewhere in New Zealand.
The core specialist course in this endorsement, HLTH451 Men’s Health, was developed and first taught in 2008, and it is
the only postgraduate course of its kind in New Zealand. The PGDipHealSc and MHealSc Endorsed in Men’s Health are
designed to investigate theories and practices in a range of areas including: lifestyles, health issues across the lifespan,
health behaviour change and interventions, ethical issues and access to health services. In addition to HLTH451 students
in the endorsement will complete an independent study (HLTH405) in a topic related to men’s health (a sample of
completed independent study topics was provided to the review panel).
The requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (endorsed in Men’s Health) are HLTH401 Health and
Health Systems, HLTH405 Independent Study, HLTH451 Men’s Health and approved courses to at least 1.0 EFTS.
The endorsement requirements for the degree of Master of Health Sciences are HLTH401 Health and Health Systems,
HLTH405 Independent Study, HLTH451 Men’s Health and:
 approved courses to at least 1.0 EFTS + HLTH690 MHealSc Thesis (1.0 EFTS); or
 approved courses to at least 1.25 EFTS + HLTH697 MHealSc Thesis (0.75 EFTS); or
 approved courses to at least 1.5 EFTS + HLTH695 Health Sciences Dissertation (0.5 EFTS)
At the present time three students are enrolled in the masters endorsed option:
 One has submitted his thesis and this is currently being examined
 A second is planning to submit her thesis on 30 September to complete the qualification
 The third student has recently begun his thesis.
A fourth student commenced the endorsement with HLTH405 Independent Study in July 2014.
(b) Achievement
The PGDipHealSc and MHealSc Endorsements in Men’s Health are designed to give health professionals, non-clinical
members of the health workforce and others interested in men’s health, the opportunity to critically examine significant
issues in men’s health and where relevant, to improve their professional practice..
A total of 31 students have completed the core course HLTH451 Men’s Health between 2008-2013. Of these, four are
currently engaged in the endorsed option. Numbers were impacted in 2011-2012 by the Canterbury earthquakes.
The majority of students who have completed HLTH451 have been employed in the health sector representing a range of
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disciplines and organisations including Social Work, Nursing, Counselling, Teaching, Corrections, Mental Health, Family
Planning, Cancer Society and Health Promotion. This student profile is consistent with the strategic goals of the School of
Health Sciences ‘To foster health related interdisciplinary and collaborative initiatives within the University, with other
tertiary education providers in Canterbury and beyond, and with the health sector’.
In a broader sense, the assignment work, independent studies and current theses of students in the endorsed option are
achieving the goals of supporting the health workforce and wider community, attracting new students to the University
and contributing to a body of knowledge in this emerging discipline.
Summary of endorsement specific content:
 Historic focus: description and critique of the development of stereotypic ‘Kiwi male’
 Epidemiological focus: men's health status and risks, morbidity and mortality of NZ males
 Developmental focus: male developmental tasks, health challenges and issues through the life-course from boyhood
through adulthood and retirement to end-of-life
 The NZ male in family, fathering, work, leisure and societal contexts, including roles as husband/partner, father,
provider and worker
Objectives: The objectives of the endorsement are to understand:
 The health status of and health risks for New Zealand males
 Male health development through the life-course
 Historical, family, work, societal, and cultural contexts of men's health
 Diversity of men's health needs and issues
 Health promotion for and by men.
(c) Changes
No significant changes have been made to the endorsement as yet though this is planned for 2015 when the HLTH451
Men’s Health will change from a whole year to a one semester course.
2. Review Processes
E
Account of Review Processes.
This graduating year review is the first formal review of the PGDipHealSc and MHealSc endorsement in Men’s Health,
and has taken place in conjunction with the full programme review of the PGDipHealSc and MHealSc programmes. The
endorsement review comprised Dr Jenny Clarke (Programme Coordinator, Bachelor of Sport Coaching, College of
Education) as GYR Convenor alongside Associate Professor Paul Ballantine (Head of Department, Management,
Marketing and Entrepreneurship), Chair of the Programme Review Panel; Prof. Allan Smith, University of California,
Berkley; Prof. Jeroen Douwes (Massey); Prof. Simon Kingham (UC); Assoc. Prof. Denise Wilson, (AUT); and Prof. Jo
Walton (Victoria). The endorsement leader, Dr Jeffrey Gage also attended a panel session for the full review.
Students enrolled in the endorsement course HLTH451 in 2012 and 2013 were surveyed and the anonymous responses
reviewed. Only 4 students completed the survey (0 from the 2012 cohort, and 4 out of 6 from 2013). These 4 students
scored the course 5.0, the top rating possible, for all areas. Two current students attended a meeting with the full review
panel, and the sole graduate thus far from the PGDipHealSc endorsed in Men’s Health was interviewed by phone by the
GYR Convenor with a summary of feedback being presented to the full review panel. Those that were interviewed were
given the opportunity to comment on the relevance of the programmes to their work, and to offer suggestions for
improvement. The endorsement coordinator, Jeffrey Gage, provided a self-review document of the PGDipHealSc and
MHealSc endorsed in Men’s Health.
3. Review Outcomes
E
(a) Acceptability
Staff, current students and the first graduate from the programme view the programme as meeting a specific need in New
Zealand and internationally which only this programme provides. Students interviewed were very positive about the
programme – its goals, assessments, and the opportunities for learning provided through the Independent Study course,
HLTH405. All students were particularly positive about the endorsement coordinator, commenting on his depth of
knowledge and approachability.
(b) Assessment procedures and student performance
The PGDipHealSc and MHealSc endorsed in Men’s Health involve two core courses which specifically address the
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endorsement, HLTH405, in which students undertake an independent study in their endorsement area, and the specific
endorsement course, HLTH451, where students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of men’s health in New
Zealand through successful completion of:
1) Critical analysis of the current state of men’s health in NZ
2) Application of life-course theory to the current and future health status of men in NZ
3) Four online discussions and submission of a portfolio
4) Oral presentation.
These assessments are relevant and authentic, linking theory to practice. The graduate student commented positively on
the quality and relevance of the assessments, and the current students were similarly positive about the course and its
assessments. A range of student work was reviewed by the panel and was found to be of an appropriate standard for Level
8 of the NZQA framework.
The main review of content is in response to regular surveys where students are strongly encouraged to complete both
course and teaching surveys on completion of HLTH451 Men’s Health.
Assessment processes follow the College of Education Guidelines for Students.
Moderation process. Internal moderation is conducted and includes peer review of assessments, and formal
consideration at examiners’ meetings.
(c) Data
Table 1: Numbers enrolling and completing the Master of Health Sciences endorsed in Men’s Health
Year
Projected
No.
Enrolling
Actual No. Enrolled
Full-time
Parttime
EFTS
No.
Completed
Withdrawals
2011
*
1
0
1
0.7
0
0
2012
*
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
2013
*
1
1
0
0.9
0
0
Table 2: Numbers enrolling and completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences endorsed in Men’s Health
Year
Projected
No.
Enrolling
Actual No. Enrolled
Full-time
Parttime
EFTS
No.
Completed
Withdrawals
2011
*
2
0
2
0.6
1
0
2012
*
1
0
1
0.3
0
0
1
0
1
0.5
0
2013
*
* 4-5 students were anticipated per year in the Endorsements across both PGDipHealSc and MHealSc
0
(d) Programme Evaluation
The Graduating Year Review panel and the staff of the PGDipHealSc and MHealSc endorsed in Men’s Health believe
that the endorsement programme has achieved its aims in terms of programme quality, and that the specialist course
HLTH451 meets the needs of those seeking specialist understanding of men’s health.
The feedback from the first graduate was very strongly positive and supportive of the programme’s role in providing
specialist education and increasing research outcomes in Men’s Health. The three students who were interviewed
commented positively on their interactions with Jeffrey Gage, acknowledging his knowledge and capability to deliver a
quality programme. One student also noted the financial support available for Men’s Health research through Government
initiatives, and the fact that the current government health strategy targets Men’s Health as a crucial area. The student
commented on a need to more effectively market the programme through relevant institutions. Relevant institutions
include national and regional bodies representing health, social work, NGOs and organisations such as the Cancer
Society, Family Planning, Heart Foundation, Plunket, Salvation Army and Presbyterian Support. The structure with an
independent research project was regarded very positively, and HLTH451 was applauded as an extremely interesting and
relevant course.
Current students expressed an interest in the provision of a Research Methods component to their training, as many
students in these programmes have been away from study for some time.
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The panel recommends that a formal moderation process is established to ensure this endorsement meets industry needs
and continues to perform at an NZQA level 8 (PGDip) and level 9 (Masters) standard. In addition, it is noted that the core
endorsement course, HLTH451 Men’s Health, was not offered this year due to low enrolments. It is further recommended
that links are established with the University of Otago who offer a gender course in their undergraduate programme, and
that stakeholders are consulted to ensure industry needs are met and that this course is visible in relevant industry areas.
(e) Continuation or Discontinuation
We recommend that the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences and Master of Health Sciences, both endorsed in Men’s
Health, be continued, as they fill a significant need in NZ health science education which is not met elsewhere in the
country. We note that there is a concern around the viability of this endorsement without targeted marketing due to the
small enrolment numbers in recent years in the core Men’s Health course, HLTH451. However, given the promotion and
the increased profile of health-related programmes across the university there is an opportunity to grow this endorsement
in the near future.
The Academic Administration Committee considered the GYR and agreed that the endorsement be permitted to continue
subject to the submission of a plan to AAC which sets out the strategy to be used to improve enrolments in the
endorsement. The plan should include a report being submitted to AAC within two years setting out progress.
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