Establishment of Intercalated Program in Basic Medical Sciences in Jordan

Unipi Team Leader: Aldo Paolicchi, Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies

Medical Schools in the Middle East are currently suffering from a critical shortage of scientists and academicians holding higher degrees in the various disciplines of basic medical sciences (BMS). For most of these Schools, the requirements for a Bachelor degree in Medicine include the successful completion of three years of intense coursework in BMS, prior to passing through three additional years of patient-oriented, bedside clinical coursework. Thus, iBMS-JO project responds to the needs to graduate students with deep background in BMS. This can be achieved by the establishment the first innovative intercalated BSc (iBSc) programs in BMS. Moreover, Telemedicine Labs (TL) will also be established to support the research activities of students and faculty, as well as providing services to the health care facilities. The establishment of an intercalated BSc (iBSc) programs in BMS is an opportunity for students to learn more about a particular topic, to develop transferable skills and/or participate in a more in-depth research project than previously available as part of a medical degree. This is can be offered after the 3rd or 4th year, which could also include an intercalated year into their standard medical programs, making them a 7-year degree, where an intercalation typically lasts one year. The expected outputs of this program include: n. 6 accredited iBSc programs in BMS, capacity building for the staff (at least 48): a) to design curricula in line with the Bologna process, b) to design and develop inter/multidisciplinary course curricula in clinical nutrition (at least 7 new modules, 120 students/year); and c) to apply innovative and flexible teaching and learning methods. Moreover, TL will provide research facilities for students and staff (n. >40 research project/year), which will support the iBSc programs and function as life-long learning resources and Centres of Excellence in medical education and research.

Other participants:

YARMOUK UNIVERSITY (Jordan)
HASHEMITE UNIVERSITY (Jordan)
CREATIVE THINKING DEVELOPMENT (Greece)
JORDAN COMPANY FOR ANTIBODY PRODUCTION (Jordan)
HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION COMMISSION (Jordan)
UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO (Portugal)
UNIVERSITA DI PISA (Italy)
UMEA UNIVERSITET (Sweden)
PANEPISTIMIO PATRON (Greece)
MUTAH UNIVERSITY LTD (Jordan)
UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN (Jordan)
AL-BALQA APPLIED UNIVERSITY (Jordan)

Start date: 15/01/2020

End date: 14/09/2023

EU Grant: 1.000.000 €

Project website: https://www.ibmsjordan.com/