Learning by doing: Course in Global Health for Norwegian medical students with field visit abroad

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Learning by doing Course in Global Health for
Norwegian medical students with field visit abroad
Ingrid Miljeteig, MD PhD Research Group in Global
Health Ethics, Economics and Culture Dept. of
Public Health and Centre for International
Health University of Bergen
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Background

• Free semester after the preclinic (valgtermin)
  for the medical students
• Global health matters!
• India has major health challenges
• Former research and teaching collaboration
  between CMC Vellore, Tamil Nadu and UiB/Haukeland
  Univ. hospital
• Build and fund employers and research projects at
  the Centre for infectious diseases, Vellore
• Course in tropical medicine for Norwegian, other
  nationalities and Indian doctors
• Experiences from being a medical student and
  researcher in India

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Description of course

• 6 weeks introduction course in Bergen
• broad focus on global health
• 32 teachers involved!
• mix with master students in international health
• lectures, group work, film, clinical examination
  technique
• 8 weeks in India/Tanzania/Uganda/Botswana/South-Af
  rica
• 2 weeks self-study and presentation of essay in
  Bergen

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Planning and start-up

• 2007-2008
• Signing agreement with CMC, with Medical faculty,
  UiB, involved departments
• Planning and establishment of 6 weeks
  introduction course, planning of 8 weeks in India
• Logistics explore possibilites of funding,
  travel, housing, responsibility, visas, school
  fees etc.
• 2008 first 10 students went, teacher came with
  them for 10 days. Necessary!!

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Logistics

• Payment 15800 for tuition of any number
• Traveling (Lånekassen)
• Visa
• Housing and food (Lånekassen)
• Health and safety issues

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Descripton of the 8 weeks program

• Several persons involved and one person full-time
  responsible for the students
• Time-table
• Lectures, also with Indian medical students
• Field-visits
• Essay
• Social life
• Traveling

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Evaluation so far

• Ugleprize
• Students blogg
• Recruitment of forskerlinjestudenter
• Popular among students and teachers
• Indian collaborators satisfied
• Experiences from the other study-sites
• Plan Include students from other faculties?

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Recommendations

• Mustache, money and a big name
• Enthusiastic, informed local partner with
  authority
• Hard-working, flexible, informed Norwegian part
  with interesting offer
• Enthusiastic, informed, respectful and
  communicating students
• Dual commitment, dual benefits