Rectors of Ukrainian universities discussed challenges of higher medical education institutions at the Autumn School of Medical Education
On Friday, 11 October, as part of the Autumn School of Medical Education, UzhNU hosted a panel discussion with the rectors of national universities to discuss current problems of higher medical education and ways to solve them. The discussion was joined by the Rector of Uzhhorod National University Volodymyr Smolanka, Rector of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University Roman Yatsyshyn, Acting Rector of Zhytomyr Medical Institute Svitlana Hordiychuk, and Rector of Lviv Medical Academy Yuriy Kryvko.
‘This panel is dedicated to the work of heads of higher medical education institutions. Today, in the times of Russian aggression against Ukraine, there are a number of important issues that we should discuss and exchange views on,’ said Volodymyr Smolanka, moderator of the discussion and rector of UzhNU. ’UzhNU is a classical university, we have about 16,000 students, which makes us the seventh largest university in the country. Before the war, we had about 3,400 medical students. Our departments include the Medical Faculty, Medical Faculty No. 2 (with English and Ukrainian as the language of study), the Faculty of Dentistry, and the Faculty of Health and Physical Education.’
The panel discussion focused on the challenges of higher medical education institutions related to the full-scale invasion, the changes initiated at the universities, and the initiatives that helped the universities to survive. Among the main problems that medical universities are working on today are the outflow of young people abroad, a significant decrease in the number of foreign students, the need for university clinics, and others. The lively discussion was accompanied by interesting questions, exchange of opinions and joint finding of solutions.
We remind you that the Autumn School of Medical Education aims to bring together medical educators, managers, specialists who develop and implement policies in the field of medical education, representatives of students and the public. The key topics covered by the school are: principles of functioning of the medical education system; quality of medical education; challenges of medical education in Ukraine and success stories in overcoming them; changes in the medical education system.
