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Opportunities for studying abroad will be better when the degree programme in medicine introduces an international semester from September 2016. At the same time, all teaching on the degree programme's eleventh semester will take place in English.
2015.09.28 |
Opportunities for studying abroad will be better when the degree programme in medicine introduces an international semester from September 2016.
“Welcome to the fifth semester of the your degree programme in medicine.” This is what the students will hear when they are welcomed to the fifth semester on the Master’s degree programme in medicine, regardless of whether they are taking the semester in Aarhus or in Adelaide.
AU is entering into exchange agreements with a number of foreign universities, so that the medical students will have better opportunities for studying abroad – while the students who choose to stay at home will be joined by international students.
“Until now it has been difficult for medical students to take part in student exchange programmes, because the degree programme alternates between theoretical teaching and clinical training at hospitals,” says Professor and Consultant at the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ulla Breth Knudsen, who is project manager for the international academic semester at medicine.
Together with the project group behind the international semester, she is compiling an overview of universities who have degree programmes in medicine that are designed in the same way as Aarhus University’s.
"We expect the exchange agreements to fall into place soon. All of them are with high ranking universities like us," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
Doctors' horizons need broadening
Aarhus University will be partnering with universities in the Nordic countries, Europe and in English-speaking countries such as Australia and Canada.
"It’s important to give students the opportunity to study abroad. Partly so they broaden their horizons, and partly so they get a new perspective on how things are done elsewhere. Getting some insight into another country’s healthcare sector also helps to give you another form of reflection on your own practice," says Kristjar Skajaa, department head at the Department of Clinical Medicine.
It’s a global world and as a medical doctor you must be able to get by in the international arena. So it’s important that the students get an international view of things.
"More and more patients have a non-Danish ethnic background where English is often the language we communicate in. English is also is the most common language in medical literature, just as research applications and articles are written in English," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
With the new exchange agreement, AU also opens up for international students. This means that foreign students will come to diagnose and treat Danish patients.
"We've set-up a ‘buddy scheme’ where the students will come to work in pairs – a Danish and an international student, so that patients who want a dialogue in Danish dialogue can get that," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
She guarantees that the teaching staff will also be properly prepared for their new role.
"All teaching will naturally take place in English, and that of course places some demands on our teaching staff. We are currently carrying out a study to find out how much support is needed," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
The international semester is a pilot project that will run for a three-year period.
About the international semester
The fifth semester of the Master’s degree programme is international.
The aim is for 60-70 students to apply for an exchange programme. This represents slightly more than 30 per cent of the students on the semester.
1:1 exchange: When medicine at AU sends one student abroad, they will enrol one foreign student.
The clinical education will also be in English and slides etc. will be in English.
Find out more:
Further information
Professor and Consultant Ulla Breth Knudsen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
ubk@clin.au.dk
“Welcome to the fifth semester of the your degree programme in medicine.” This is what the students will hear when they are welcomed to the fifth semester on the Master’s degree programme in medicine, regardless of whether they are taking the semester in Aarhus or in Adelaide.
AU is entering into exchange agreements with a number of foreign universities, so that the medical students will have better opportunities for studying abroad – while the students who choose to stay at home will be joined by international students.
“Until now it has been difficult for medical students to take part in student exchange programmes, because the degree programme alternates between theoretical teaching and clinical training at hospitals,” says Professor and Consultant at the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ulla Breth Knudsen, who is project manager for the international academic semester at medicine.
Together with the project group behind the international semester, she is compiling an overview of universities who have degree programmes in medicine that are designed in the same way as Aarhus University’s.
"We expect the exchange agreements to fall into place soon. All of them are with high ranking universities like us," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
Doctors' horizons need broadening
Aarhus University will be partnering with universities in the Nordic countries, Europe and in English-speaking countries such as Australia and Canada.
"It’s important to give students the opportunity to study abroad. Partly so they broaden their horizons, and partly so they get a new perspective on how things are done elsewhere. Getting some insight into another country’s healthcare sector also helps to give you another form of reflection on your own practice," says Kristjar Skajaa, department head at the Department of Clinical Medicine.
It’s a global world and as a medical doctor you must be able to get by in the international arena. So it’s important that the students get an international view of things.
"More and more patients have a non-Danish ethnic background where English is often the language we communicate in. English is also is the most common language in medical literature, just as research applications and articles are written in English," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
With the new exchange agreement, AU also opens up for international students. This means that foreign students will come to diagnose and treat Danish patients.
"We've set-up a ‘buddy scheme’ where the students will come to work in pairs – a Danish and an international student, so that patients who want a dialogue in Danish dialogue can get that," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
She guarantees that the teaching staff will also be properly prepared for their new role.
"All teaching will naturally take place in English, and that of course places some demands on our teaching staff. We are currently carrying out a study to find out how much support is needed," says Ulla Breth Knudsen.
The international semester is a pilot project that will run for a three-year period.
About the international semester
The fifth semester of the Master’s degree programme is international.
The aim is for 60-70 students to apply for an exchange programme. This represents slightly more than 30 per cent of the students on the semester.
1:1 exchange: When medicine at AU sends one student abroad, they will enrol one foreign student.
The clinical education will also be in English and slides etc. will be in English.