Case Study

Building a global classroom: the future of MedEd

The problem

Providing medical students access to diverse cases, even in a time of war

The University of Exeter and Uzhhorod National University Faculty of Medicine in Ukraine wanted to increase the level of patient diversity that their students are exposed to, with a sense of global variety.

Both institutions are looking for innovative solutions to placement capacity issues. These capacity issues are worsened by the complication of war in Ukraine, where it has become difficult to offer teaching in clinical environments.

Solution

We developed a virtual clinical experience (VCE™) model for medical students and ran a pilot across both institutions

The model describes how to set up and deliver virtual clinical experiences in which UK medical students learn in collaboration with medical school students, doctors and patients elsewhere internationally, including in low or middle income countries or those facing challenging circumstances.

International collaboration around patient cases in the UK and Ukraine using our platform

A repeatable, scalable VCE™ model for global classrooms, which can be set up even under constrained economic or situational circumstances

A study of VCE™ impact on student knowledge acquisition, skill development and attitude improvement [results pending]

Impact

An accessible Med Ed classroom for international collaboration

The pilot demonstrated how global classrooms that harbour collaboration between students, patients and healthcare professionals can be established worldwide, even in challenging circumstances.

This solution we piloted with our partners is:

Scalable: any number of students
Repeatable: an executable model, alongside the VCE™ software solution

potentially opening access to many more students worldwide

Inspiring students to pursue General Practice

The University of Exeter + Uzhhorod National University Faculty of Medicine plan to utilise our platform to increase exposure of the fantastic work family doctors do globally, and to inspire students to join them in General Practise.

Next steps

The partners will run a second pilot session in February 2024, using the same model and VCE™ configuration, with a different patient case.