WBU delegation visits School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge

As part of the cooperation between Western Balkans University and the Cambridge University Medical Education Group, on March 6th – 8th, a series of meetings between the staff of both universities took place in the facilities of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge.

During these meetings, the delegation of the Western Balkans University led by Professor Ferdinand Gjana, President of the Managerial Board of Western Balkans University, had the opportunity to meet with all the leaders of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge and had the opportunity to learn more about the ways of operation, the curriculum, the departments, the teaching programs, the hospitals and the research centres integral part of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge.

The activity was organized by Cambridge University Medical Education Group (CUMEG), under the care of Dr. Diana Wood the Emeritus Clinical Dean at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine and Leads on Curriculum and Quality Assurance and Mrs. Cheryl France Heads of CUMEG. 

During the first day of this program, the delegation had the possibility to visit the facilities on the campus of the Clinical School of Medicine of the University of Cambridge, the Deakin Centre, the Addenbrooke Hospital premises and the Research Centres. 

The delegation of WBU had the pleasure to meet and discuss various topics of interest with Professor Paul Wilkinson the Clinical Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge who deals with the curriculum, staff development, student welfare and quality assurance. 

In order to better understand the innovative ways of teaching at the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge, the delegation participated in lectures as well as practical and communication skills sessions. 

Important information on students’ welfare and students’ experience in the Clinical School was delivered by Dr. Fiona Cooke the Sub Dean for the Welfare of the School of Clinical Medicine. Other details on these topics were explained by Allison Martin, Head of Undergraduate Education; Dr. Litsa Biggs, Secretary to the Faculty Board and Head of Education Division, and Millie Cherfils, Students Experience and Communications Manager.

On the second day of the visit, the delegation from WBU had the possibility to learn more about the ways of the organization and the curriculum development of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge by Dr. Mark Lillicrap, Leads on curriculum and staff development in the medical setting. 

The program continued with an interactive session involving Dr. Ruchi Sinnatamby, Sub Dean for Addenbrooke’s hospital, Dr. Elisabeth Fistein, Ethics and Law Curriculum Coordinator and Mr. William Mair, Senior Educational Technologist of the School of Clinical Medicine. 

An important session was the one dedicated to the innovative medical assessment methods and the high standards and quality the School of Clinical Medicine uses related to this topic, delivered by Professor Mark Gurnell, who Leads medical assessment and quality assurance. 

The second-day program was completed by meeting Professor Patrick Maxwell, Regius Professor of Physic and Head of the School of Clinical Medicine. Professor Maxwell shared his important experience as the leader of one of the most important schools of medicine in the world and expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration between the institutions, that will bring a new and innovative model of education in Medicine not only in Albania but also in Europe.

On the last day of the visit, the delegation of WBU had the opportunity to meet Professor Riikka Hoffman, Leads on the evidence of medical education and learning, who delivered an interesting session focusing on professional learning and reflecting the most up-to-date research and evidence in medical education.

The program continued by visiting the Medical Library premises of the School of Clinical Medicine. Jo Milton, the Library Manager, explained all the processes and procedures related to this part of the Clinical School and had a question-and-answer session on the topic.

The three-days visit ended with the participation of the delegation from WBU to the Full Deanery meeting of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge.

These meetings are part of the collaboration that Western Balkans University has with Cambridge University Medical Education Group on establishing the new Medical School.