Occupational Medicine Training Course; lessons learned

1. Occupational Medicine Training Course; lessons learned Fifth TEMPUS National Information Day Ministry of Higher Education- 7th Feb 2010 Hyam Bashour Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University Syrian coordinator for the Tempus Project on Occupational Medicine

3. Partners

4. The project • Scientific Coordination from La Sapienza • Project management from UNIMED • National Committee in Syria headed by Dean and attended by local coordinators from three universities and MOSAL

5. MEDTRA project • Teachers from Italy, Malta and Syria • Sixteen students from Damascus, Aleppo and Homs universities • Two years theoretical Training in Syria and a practical training in Rome • 7 modules (1st year) and 9 modules (2nd year); each for 3-5 days. One week practical in the 3rd year • An exam of 60 MCQs • Development of Teaching Materials in OM • Equipments are provided for prospective centres for occupational Medicine in 3 Syrian universities!

6. Snapshots from MEDTRA project

7. Lessons learned!

8. Lesson One National Needs • A project that fits national needs is of extremely high potential value!

9. Facts on Health and Safety in Syria • Occupational health remains neglected in because of competing priorities • Occupational Diseases and injuries have great human and economic impact • Occupational Health research is scarce • Heath and Safety (H & S) concepts still immature • Safety at workplaces is not legalized or systematized • Number of Occupational doctors is minimal

10. Lesson Two Mission and activities • The lack of active involvement on behalf of Syrian Partners at the planning stage have resulted in problems related to the outcomes of the project.

11. What has worked and Not! • Learning in Cross-cultural environment • Exchange and mobility of the Syrian Students as well as the Italian/Maltese professors • European Health and Safety policies were well introduced to students • Lack of H&S policies in Syria reduced opportunities for students • Speedy and poor selection of students had affected the outcome (varied backgrounds and interest!)

12. Lesson Three Sustainability • The sustainability of the new curriculum is threatened by the lack of good understanding of the rules and regulations of Syrian universities • Also it is threatened by the potential lack of opportunity to continue life long learning on behalf of the students

13. Why! • Training Is very interesting • But students are interested in degrees (not certificates) and in work opportunities • The training course was considered as equal to 3 months training of the Master in Occupational Health that Damascus University issue (DU is the only Syrian University with this Master) • Degree cannot be issued!. • Functionality of the centre is critical but challenging!

14. Lesson Four Dissemination • Dissemination for the project is important and was active. It would have been more successful If dissemination workshops in Syria has focused on the theme (H & S) rather than the project.

15. Where! • Syria • Italy • Tunisia All for advocacy purposes

16. Lesson Five Quality Assurance • The course could have contributed more to our university/ies strategies for quality assurance.

17. Whatis going on! • Currently QA in Syria is focused on Undergraduate curricula • QA is a vehicle for quality enhancement of the curriculum • Staff and students evaluations were carried out but did not contribute to the New Curriculum per se. • Lack of engagement of Syrian partners in the progress reporting

18. In Conclusion! An opportunity to advocate for the specialty in Occupational Health and to foster H & S national policies was opened by European partners, but it would have benefited more from proper planning at the preparatory stage and proper selection of trainees! • Time pressure ! • Focus on process rather than outcome! • Driven by opportunity rather than by proper analysis of the situation ! • Others! ??

19. شكراً لكم Thank YOU Merci Grazzi