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Integrated planning of international medical clerkships: the role of the university.

Globalization is a characteristic of the new teaching and learning models. Internationalization is used as a tool to improve the quality of education, research, visibility of the university and to prepare students for a global and intercultural health environment. In medicine, there is a continuing shift to short-term and faculty-led clerkships, as students show greater interest in international internships with possibilities of learning abroad. However, to guarantee the success of these activities, it is essential that both institutions enrolled in these exchange programs fulfill several crucial items. Botucatu Medical School, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP/FMB), made sure that the aims of each clerkship were be previously set; professors/tutors of both institutions elaborated short-term programs in partner universities, with the guarantee of ethic commitment, quality of hospital infra-structure and teaching support. Clinical rotations were distributed over the whole academic year in partner institutions in Europe, USA and China. The students were evaluated for language skills and received cultural and social information about the visited country. Alumni were frequently involved in these activities. Based on these efforts, UNESP/FMB increased the academic exchange rate to 42% of the undergraduates in the last five years. A specific survey gave feedback to the university. Based on this questionnaire, in the first year only for 53.8% and 38.4% previous advising was sufficient concerning the country and the exchange activities, respectively. Actions as involvement of alumni improved these evaluations to 73% and 61%, respectively. The continuum of the clerkships strengthened the integration of the curricula; most programs are currently in their 5th year of application. Universities have to constantly support and assess their academic exchange programs.

Author(s):

Silke Weber    
UNESP - Botucatu Medical School
Brazil

Karina Chamma    
UNESP - Botucatu Medical School
Brazil

Silvana Schellini    
UNESP - Botucatu Medical School
Brazil