International Projects
“TEMPUS” is an educational program of the European Union which aims at modernizing higher educationa system and creating an area for cooperation between the EU partner countries through university projects. The purpose of the programme is also to voluntarily advance higher education systems in partner countries to the achievements of higher education in the EU countries, and further promote an interpersonal approach.
In 2011, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University joined the TEMPUS international project “Modernizing Undergraduate Medical Education in the EU Eastern Neighboring Area (MUMEENA)” within the framework of the programme TEMPUS EACEA 32/2010, No. of the Project 516664-TEMPUS-1-2011-1-UK-TEMPUS-JPCR.
The overall goal of the project was to improve undergraduate medical education in partner countries, in particular in Ukraine, to ensure its compliance with the principles and objectives of the Bologna Process and international standards in order to integrate Ukrainian medical education into the Common European Educational Area.
Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University has participated in the project for 36 months
(15.10.2011 – 15.10.2014).
Partner Institutions of IFNMU
- Leeds Institute of Medical Education (UK)
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Italy)
- University of Granada (Spain)
- The Faculty of Medicine of Utrecht University (the Netherlands)
- Bogomolets National Medical University (Ukraine)
- Testing Center of the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine (Ukraine)
- Tbilisi State Medical University (Georgia)
- Tbilisi State University (Georgia)
- Azerbaijan Medical University (Azerbaijan)
- Nakhchivan State University (Azerbaijan)
Goals of the Project
- creating or updating the standards of higher medical education;
- modernizing of the integrated curriculum for training the doctors at the undergraduate stage in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine by improving existing and introducing new pedagogical, educational and assessment approaches within individual disciplines and modules (samples) (for example, Social Medicine; Geriatrics (Medicine of the elderly) early mastery of clinical thinking and clinical skills, the development of the research skills) in accordance with the international AMEE/WFME standards;
- professional development of teaching staff through the establishment of the Training Centers for Teachers in each partner country to ensure the sustainable infrastructure of the modernization process;
- spreading the model of modernization of medical higher education among other countries of the Eastern neighborhood.
Directions of the Project
- industry standards update of higher education in accordance with modern approaches in the Single European Education Area;
- curriculum modernization:
- early implementation of practical classes on the development of clinical thinking (Case Based Clinical Reasoning);
- enhanced study of Gerontology (creation and implementation of an integrated end-to-end programme to study Gerontology and Geriatrics);
- teaching students the methodology of scientific work, and developing the research skills of future doctors (Open Box);
- new philosophy of acquiring practical skills by the students;
- creating and functioning of the Training Center for Teachers.
Achievements of the Project Realization
- Improvement of the undergraduate medical education at IFNMU;
- Implementation of credit-modules system of education;
- Improvement the material base of educational classes for students;
- Implementation of the project on the development of clinical thinking of students
(2013-2014):- introduction of practical classes for 3-5 year students;
- development of new elective courses in the curriculum;
- creation of the integrated curricula for medical students and interns to improve practical skills and techniques;
- Development of the research skills (2012-2014):
- creation of 3 training centers for students and professors, equipped with the latest technologies;
- introduction of a new end-to-end standard Palliative and Hospice Care program;
- implementation of the curricula on the Basics of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Surgery;
- Training and conferences for students and professors, which aimed at developing clinical thinking and improving research skills (2012-2014);
- Creation and development of the Training Center for IFNMU Teachers (2012-2014);
- Creation of 2 new classrooms equipped with modern technologies for the development of the research and academic skills of the students (2013-2014);
- Publishment of new manuals in the main areas of the project;
- Development of the mobility of students and professors of the University.
In August 2022, teachers of the Department of Hygiene and Ecology, as well as methodologists of the Academic Department of IFNMU, took part in the educational project «Digital Learning for Sustainable Development in Ukraine». The project was initiated by the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and three Ukrainian universities of different directions were involved, namely: National Forestry University, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical Univerisity.
While participating in the project, the participants completed a course consisting of six interconnected modules aimed at highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals:
- Good health and well-being
- Preservation of marine ecosystems
- Clean water and proper sanitary conditions
- Responsible consumption
- Renewable energy
- Fighting against climate change
This environmental initiative of German scientists was aimed at introducing sustainable development strategies into the educational process of higher education institutions. Each institution will implement the greening of education in different components and interpretations. In particular, at IFNMU, this resulted in the development and implementation of two elective courses: «Good health and well-being in the context of sustainable development» and «Global climate change and its impact on human health».
During the project implementation, there was constant communication with the coordinators of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Alex Lingos and Linda Ternova, the remote meeting was held with the Head of Research + Transfer Centre „Sustainability & Climate Change Management“ (FTZ-NK) Professor Walter Lil and the visit by Maria Fedoruk, a researcher at the same centre. During these meetings, they discussed the results of the training and the status of the project, and also agreed on cooperation between IFNMU and Research + Transfer Centre „Sustainability & Climate Change Management“ (FTZ-NK) of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences.
