Academic Educational Links

Posted on 11. Oct, 2009 by Erin in Latest News

The purposes of academic educational Links are (i) to assist universities overseas (principally those in Sub-Saharan Africa) by fostering cooperation with partner organisations in the UK, and (ii) to increase awareness in British medical and nursing schools of education and training in a wider international context.

Such partnerships are most commonly forged between medical or nursing schools, but colleges committed to the delivery of courses in other professions allied to the practice of medicine (laboratory technology, dietetics, physiotherapy and many others) may also be involved.

Academic educational links are likely to be most effective when they are part of a wider Links programme involving (i) postgraduate education and training, (ii) the development of new healthcare delivery systems, or (iii) the support of management and strategic planning. Academic educational links may however be free-standing if special circumstances dictate.

Incentives for Universities in the UK to engage in a Links programme

Several of the premier universities in Britain are currently involved overseas in academic educational links in the medical field. The take-up has not however been universal over the years, and there have been no easily identified financial drivers to prompt all medical and nursing schools to engage in such activity. There has however been a striking change recently in the national perception of overseas development, and this was highlighted by the publication of the report Global Health Partnerships (the Crisp Report, February 2007).

There is now a widely held view that British students benefit greatly from exposure to health systems of the poorest countries. Furthermore, patterns of disease throughout the world are increasingly susceptible to population movements and the increasing ease of travel, which enhance the need for a better understanding among UK graduates of the medical problems encountered overseas.

Priorities

In all Links programmes supported and encouraged by THET, the principle has always been to respond to the needs and priorities identified at a local level overseas. The same applies in the context of medical and nursing schools, and requests have been received for cooperation in many different areas. Examples include the training of the teaching staff, curriculum development, examinations, infrastructure development and student welfare.

THET’s role

THET is there to encourage and assist in the development of academic educational links. We have extensive contacts in HEIs throughout the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa, and we will respond to enquiries from either sector. Preliminary enquiries should be addressed to John MacDermot at john@thet.org.

Please note: THET’s website is undergoing re-construction. The Links Search does not show all Link information. For Health Link locations and areas of work contact info@thet.org or
+44 (0)20 7290 3892.