International Summer School at EHB

The International Summer School offers a two-week program that focuses on the global diversity of health care and health systems. Common trends such as economization, aging populations, climate change, shortage of skilled professionals, migration and refugee flows as well as the increasing impoverishment of populations will play an important role in the program. We focus on the perspective of human rights. These topics will be discussed from different professional angles as well as in an international exchange with students and teachers from different countries. At the end of the program, a workshop about future outlooks will search for perspectives and models that can function as solutions regarding these urgent issues of global health care. All students from bachelor and master programs from EHB partner universities who are involved or interested in health care issues are cordially invited to participate in this dialogue. 

According to the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programs guideline, this event is based on a multidimensional and interdisciplinary teaching approach. In addition to group work sessions which will compare international experiences and practices, there will be experts from the different focus areas invited to share insight into theory and practice. Furthermore, field excursions to different health care institutions are planned. Berlin sightseeing will also be included as an extracurricular activity for our international participants. Students will receive 5 ETCS points for the successful participation in the program after completing a performance evaluation. 

International Summer School 2023: Health Systems in Focus - Looking at Degrees and Future Prospects

The 14 days of the Summer School flew by due to the creative working atmosphere during the seminars and workshops. Activating methods contributed to the fact that the initial language barriers of the students disappeared and the inter- and transcultural communication with global perspectives set in. For example, a "World Café" took place on the last day, the results of which confirmed: The Summer School was a success! The evaluation showed that the focus of the content as well as the organization, the personal approach, the working atmosphere, the professional excursions and the leisure activities were very well received. There is room for improvement in the selection of accommodations, assistance with transportation, expansion of recreational opportunities, and scheduling of student presentations. All students passed their presentations and received a certificate with 5 ECTS to the great joy of all (photo).

The results are an incentive to continue the Summer School at EHB, as they continue and deepen the internationalization processes started at EHB. They are a result of four years of international networking with European, African and Taiwanese universities carried out by the International Affairs and StrInGEnt team led by Tanja Reith and Martin Leutner. Regarding the engagement in the implementation of this year's Summer School, we would in particular like to thank our colleague Dr. Fred Yao Gbagbo from UEW/Ghana, who was present for two weeks, was able to give exciting insights into the Ghanaian health care system and distinguished himself as a very good process facilitator of the didactic procedures. He lectured on "Communication in nursing", "Brain drain", "Funeral culture in Ghana" and "Care of the elderly".

The colleague Prof. Dr. Chou Ying-Chyi from Tunghai University/Taiwan was able to accompany a group of students to Berlin, who excelled in the topics "Robots" and "Environment". The lecture of Vanessa Hébert from Ocellia/France and her students raised critical questions about the health care system in France, such as recognition of the profession, nursing emergency, palliative care and lack of permeability of recognition of professional qualifications of nurses and doctors from non-European countries. Students from Sorbonne Paris North University, most of whom have an African migration history, showed great sensitivity to intercultural and transcultural issues. In particular, they contributed on quality management that enriched the roundtable. Likewise, the Dutch group, presented the Dutch model, which is characterized by prevention, health promotion and good outpatient structures.

The EHB colleagues Prof. Dr. Kristina Dronsch, Prof. Dr. Dietrun Lübeck and Prof. Dr. Rebekka Streck brought in their contributions "Disabled God" and "Addiction/Mental Health", thereby strengthening the multidisciplinary orientation of the EHB team. Prof. Dr. Olivia Dibelius spoke about "digitalization", "elderly care", "impact of shortage" and provided the common thread during the two weeks. Two bachelor students of EHB, Wanda Reissbrodt (Social Work) and Ariane Karzek (Nursing) participated. They enriched the panel with their German perspective and were also ambassadors of the university’s student body.