Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Master of Nursing Science in Midwifery is profoundly and holistically aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals by cultivating advanced practice nurses and leaders dedicated to the health and well-being of women, newborns, and families. The curriculum's philosophy, emphasizing evidence-based practice, culturally sensitive care, and leadership in healthcare systems, makes it a powerful contributor to sustainability. The program is a cornerstone of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), with its entire focus on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and empowering women through access to quality reproductive and maternal health services. As an advanced postgraduate program, it is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education), preparing the next generation of researchers, educators, and policy advocates. Furthermore, the curriculum's emphasis on healthcare policy, research, and community-based care addresses SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The program's collaborative nature embodies the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-beingAlignment Summary: This program is the embodiment of ensuring healthy lives for women and newborns. Its entire curriculum is designed to produce expert midwives who can provide high-quality care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, directly contributing to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and promoting well-being for families.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817101 | Advanced Midwifery I | Directly contributes to reducing the global maternal mortality ratio and ending preventable deaths of newborns by focusing on the comprehensive care of women and infants during the normal childbirth process (Target 3.1 & 3.2). |
| NS817102 | Advanced Midwifery II | Is fundamental to ensuring healthy lives by focusing on the management of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, which is critical for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality (Target 3.1 & 3.2). |
| NS817205 | Practicum in Advanced Midwifery II | Represents the practical application of knowledge to ensure healthy lives, where students manage complex cases under supervision to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: As a Master of Nursing Science program, this curriculum represents a high level of quality education. It is designed to train the next generation of midwifery leaders, educators, and researchers, equipping them with advanced skills for knowledge creation, evidence-based practice, and lifelong learning essential for sustainable development.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817897 | Thesis | Enhances education for sustainable development by training students in rigorous scientific research methodology, enabling them to generate new knowledge to improve midwifery practice and education (Target 4.7). |
| NS817898 | Independent Study | Promotes quality education and lifelong learning skills by requiring students to critically analyze and synthesize knowledge on a specialized topic, preparing them for leadership and academic careers (Target 4.4). |
SDG 5: Gender EqualityAlignment Summary: The program is a direct and powerful contributor to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. By ensuring access to high-quality midwifery care, it upholds women's sexual and reproductive health and rights, which is a fundamental aspect of gender equality.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817101 | Advanced Midwifery I | Directly supports gender equality by focusing on women's health and empowering women with knowledge and care during pregnancy and childbirth, a key component of sexual and reproductive health and rights (Target 5.6). |
| NS817102 | Advanced Midwifery II | Promotes gender equality by ensuring that women with complications receive the specialized care they need, upholding their right to the highest attainable standard of health (Target 5.6). |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthAlignment Summary: The program contributes to economic growth by producing highly skilled advanced practice nurses for the essential healthcare sector. It promotes decent work by preparing graduates for leadership roles where they can influence policy and create safe, supportive, and productive work environments.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817203 | Health System and Policy Development | Contributes to decent work by preparing leaders who can advocate for policies that improve working conditions and resource allocation for healthcare professionals (Target 8.8). |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: This program supports innovation in healthcare infrastructure. The research conducted by students for their thesis or independent study contributes to the scientific knowledge base, which can lead to the development of new technologies, clinical guidelines, and models of care in midwifery.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817897 | Thesis | Enhances scientific research and upgrades the technological and clinical capabilities of the healthcare sector by generating new evidence to improve midwifery care (Target 9.5). |
SDG 10: Reduced InequalitiesAlignment Summary: The program works to reduce health inequalities by training midwives to provide culturally competent care to diverse and vulnerable populations. By understanding and addressing the social determinants of health, graduates can help ensure that all women, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality maternal and newborn care.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817103 | Culture and Women's Health | Directly aims to reduce inequality by teaching students to provide culturally sensitive care, promoting the social inclusion and equal access to health services for women from all backgrounds (Target 10.2). |
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong InstitutionsAlignment Summary: The program is essential for building strong public health institutions. It provides the core knowledge of health policy and systems, which is critical for developing effective, accountable, and inclusive health services that are responsive to the needs of women and families.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817203 | Health System and Policy Development | Contributes to developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions by teaching the principles of health policy analysis and development, which can be used to strengthen maternal and child health services (Target 16.6). |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: Midwifery is inherently collaborative. The program's extensive clinical practicums are powerful examples of multi-stakeholder partnerships, representing a deep and sustained collaboration between the university and the healthcare system to build capacity and achieve health for all.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| NS817204 | Practicum in Advanced Midwifery I | Represents an effective public-public partnership, building collaborative experience between academia and healthcare providers to strengthen the health system (Target 17.17). |
| NS817205 | Practicum in Advanced Midwifery II | Enhances the partnership for sustainable development by deploying advanced practice students into clinical settings, which builds domestic capacity in maternal and child health (Target 17.9). |