Internationalising Medical Student Experience

Internationalising Medical Student Experience

University Student Education Fellowship Scheme 2014/15

Laura Stroud

Director of Student Education

School of Medicine

A. Aims of the project

What are you planning to achieve? Include any background that put the aims in context - particularly in relation to bullet c below

I wish to explore ways of aligning the MBChB with the University Internationalisation strategy, which seeks to ‘strengthen the proposition “Why Leeds” by embedding prioritised internationalisation initiatives’, within the constraints of a professionally regulated curriculum.

Currently, the main opportunity for medical students to study abroad is through an elective (typically, a clinical placement or medical audit/research project) lasting approximately 6 weeks. We also offer 25 places to incoming exchange students for a similar elective period.

I propose to develop excellence and increase opportunities for international study by establishing partnerships with preferred international providers. A dialogue has already been established with prestigious institutions (Karolinska Instituten, Universities of Maastricht and Leiden) with the aim of developing both student and staff exchanges that will:

·  Enhance student employability through experience abroad

·  Allow us to extend language-learning opportunities beyond Spanish and French

·  Raise the profile of Leeds through partnerships with prestigious institutions

·  Evaluate the impact of these exchanges through educational research

·  Include the potential for staff exchange, scholarship and research

·  Establish our place in the international market in readiness should the international cap on medical undergraduate numbers be lifted

·  Explore the potential for incorporating an international element into intercalated student projects

B. Outcomes and deliverables

Specific, planned outcomes and deliverables from the project

Two or more partnership agreements with international providers that

·  establish study placements abroad for MBChB students that comply with the GMC outcomes framework

·  establish reciprocal arrangements for medical students from partner institutions to study in Leeds and benefit from innovative aspects of the MBChB programme

·  enable staff exchanges to share and disseminate best practice and enhance our respective curricula

C. Strategic benefit to student education

The benefit / link to a strategic priority in student education at the University

The project directly addresses the international dimension of the University’s strategic plan for 2015-2020, Investing in Knowledge and Opportunity. In particular, it aims to increase the international reach of the MBChB programme “ensuring that the impact of our education, research and alumni community is globally relevant”.

D. Methodology

How will the outcomes be achieved?

·  Establish internationalisation as a priority for School Taught Education Committee

·  Convene a standing committee on study abroad, with membership drawn from key staff with an interest in the internationalisation agenda

·  Encourage staff engagement and facilitate opportunities for site visits to establish working relationships

·  Liaise with potential partners at European medical schools and consolidate contacts with existing partners

·  Develop agreements that cover both electives and exchanges, with advice and support from the Study Abroad office

·  Pilot new partnership agreements through the existing medical elective programmes and work towards establishing exchanges for clinical placements

·  Map curricula to determine type and length of exchange placements with each partner organisation

·  Work with the Language Centre to provide appropriate support for outgoing students once language requirements have been identified

·  Work with central University to ensure that appropriate support is provided for incoming students

E. Timeline and milestones

What will be achieved by when?

Year 1

·  Agree and sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with one or more international partners

·  Receive first incoming students for electives under the new partnership agreement(s)

·  Offer elective opportunities for Leeds MBChB students to study abroad with partner institutions

·  Arrange staff visits to partner institutions to share and disseminate best practice in medical education and assess suitability of clinical environment for Leeds MBChB students

Year 2

·  Achieve assurance of at least one exchange placement with international partner to enable Leeds MBChB students to undertake clinical rotations abroad

·  Continue to develop MoUs with preferred international partners

·  Continue to receive incoming students for electives and offer opportunities for electives abroad

·  Establish on-going programme of staff visits to partner institutions to build relationship and develop further opportunities for collaborative provision

·  Develop joint educational research projects to explore the impact of these initiatives

Year 3

·  Partnership agreements with three or more international institutions

·  Established programme of exchange visits and clinical rotations abroad

·  Joint publications with partner institutions on scholarship and innovation in medical education

F. Plans for dissemination

Plans for dissemination apart from the USEF reports

·  Promotion of the partnerships within the Faculty of Medicine and Health, local NHS, and the wider University to increase the breadth and depth of the relationships

·  Submission of papers and conference abstracts to relevant medical education conferences, both national and international

G. Evaluation

How will you measure the impact / contribution

·  Numbers of students on placement or exchanges with preferred international partners

·  Student satisfaction with international placement experience

·  Staff engagement with the internationalisation agenda

·  Joint research projects and publications with international partners

H. Contributions to development of student education

What contributions will you make to Department / School / Service, Faculty and University development of student education (see scheme, section 6.5)

The project will contribute to the development of student education at School level and address the University’s strategic objective of increasing its international reach by:

·  strengthening the international profile, reputation and impact of the MBChB programme

·  increasing the range and flexibility of international opportunities for MBChB students through an enhanced range of options for study abroad

·  responding to international opportunities for innovative and creative programme development

I. Outline budget

How will the project funds be spent during the project?

The award money will be used

·  to fund scoping visits to ensure that placements meet the requirements of the GMC

·  to buy out staff time to develop appropriate placements for incoming students

·  to develop joint educational research projects to explore the impact of these initiatives

·  to disseminate the Leeds experience of internationalising the medical curriculum at UK and international conferences such as AMEE