When the pandemic struck in full force in the spring of 2020, Uppsala’s planned visit to Trondheim had to be postponed until the autumn, but travel was not possible in the autumn either. Therefore, the meeting was again delayed to the spring of 2021, but even then, the trip could not happen. In the autumn of 2021, when the pandemic calmed down enough for the borders between Sweden and Norway to be reopened, it was finally time. For two days in early November, seventeen representatives from the medical educations and the Office for Medicine and Pharmacy travelled to Trondheim for discussions and study visits.
The trip was financed with money from the Erasmus programme for staff mobility.
We began the first day began discussions about differences and similarities between the two universities, as well as about the new societal landscape around health care and its significance for future medical education. We also learned about the suitability assessment made regarding students in medical education in Norway, as well as the regulations that govern medical education. The students gave an appreciated presentation about students' mental health, and we discussed various forms of student mobility and funding opportunities. We also got an exciting tour of the hospital area and had the opportunity to look at innovative teaching facilities.
We began the first day began discussions about differences and similarities between the two universities, as well as about the new societal landscape around health care and its significance for future medical education. We also learned about the suitability assessment made regarding students in medical education in Norway, as well as the regulations that govern medical education. The students gave an appreciated presentation about students' mental health, and we discussed various forms of student mobility and funding opportunities. We also got an exciting tour of the hospital area and had the opportunity to look at innovative teaching facilities.
We began the second day with a visit to the university's practical exercise facility, which, with the help of modern technology, allows students to try out realistic patient and care situations. Among other things, we took a closer look at a very realistic neonatal doll with heart sounds, which raised great interest.
During the visit, we also received a review of the collaboration between the hospital and the university. In Trondheim, the university owns parts of the hospital and has a seat on the hospital's board, which means that collaboration between the university and the hospital is safe and long-term. We were shown a detailed room distribution plan, where it is clearly defined, room by room, who owns the room – the hospital or the university. Of course, the collaboration entails some challenges, but it is perceived as an appealing solution that the university is well integrated and present in the hospital's physical premises.
In addition to a rewarding joint programme, the representatives of the educations also had a lot of time for programme-specific discussions. When the visit was summed up, they had come a long way in their discussions about various forms of collaboration. In addition to student mobility, joint assessment of degree projects, guest lectures, they had also discussed webinars and group work. The discussions between the deputy deans and administrative representatives were also rewarding, with conversations about marketing each other's elective and independent courses, a more permissive attitude to credits, and the continuation of the collaboration in general. Next, Uppsala will invite Trondheim to a return visit in May 2022.
We hope that the pandemic releases its grip just in time for the first fresh winds of spring.