Panel Discussion – ProBLeMS

Sustainability of project results will be enabled by adequate communication, which will be crucially aimed at strengthening the dissemination and visibility of project results and achieving the greatest possible impact and sustainability. Activities in this direction will be implemented during the project, but will continue after its completion, in order to promote the subject and results of the project at the faculty, university, education system and national level, among teaching staff, current students, future students, local communities, health care institutions, employers, policy makers - decision makers, civil society organizations and citizens in general.

In communication with the subjects from the health sector, the benefit that the health system and society as a whole receive by implementing a new learning model will be especially emphasized. In this segment, a special role will be played by two institutions involved in the project as sector representative institutions - IPHM and UBISRS.

Confirmation of the importance of the application of the MCPB module through the publication of project results (through task 5.1.) will be the basis for the sustainability of project results in the scientific community.

Probably the most important element of sustainability will be the continuation of education according to the improved curricula (adopted in Task 5.2) at the partner WBC HEIs and the continuation of the expansion of the new learning model in other courses.

The proposals and guidelines that the project team will provide in the Final project document with recommendations and which will be submitted to all relevant stakeholders in the field of higher education will result in further expansion of implementation of metacognitive problem-based modules in courses in various fields of education which will be the final proof of the sustainability capacity of this project.

A key segment of sustainability will be patients who will be treated by doctors trained in the new learning model to recognize the disease faster but also to adequately treat or prevent it.

An important part of the Final project document with recommendations will be a proposal of measures that will relate to the educational community of WBC HEIs and which will contain proposals for the use of new knowledge in practice and for their monitoring and development in the future.
The Final project document with recommendations will be delivered to all partners, decision makers in the field of education and the competent state authorities in each of the WBC.

The Final project document with recommendations is the basis for further expansion of the new learning model using MCPB modules in the teaching processes of different HEIs and will be an important element of the concept of sustainability project result.

This Task will test the capacity of WBC HEIs for further independent application and development of a new learning model, using the knowledge gained in the implementation of this project.

The results of the analysis in this Task will directly indicate the level of knowledge acquired from WBC HEIs, but also the capacity for sustainability of project results after its completion.

This meets the requirement of the Erasmus + call that changes in curricula must be verified before the end of the project.

This Task represents the main segment of dissemination of project results in the scientific and professional community. It also ensures an increase in the impact of the Project and the sustainability of its results.

The completion of this sub-activity does not end the duration of the courses, they are implemented and their use continues. As with the implementation of the MCPB module (WP3 T3.4) we start in the 12 month of the project and then we start with the implementation of a new learning model that lasts until the end of this subactivity (WP4 T4.4). This means that the new teaching model will start during the project and will last 18 months (12 months T3.4 and 6 months T4.4), i.e. half the project duration, thus fulfilling the requirement in the project call that in the implementation and monitoring of project activities curricula and programs must start during the project and last at least 1/3 of the project.

The results of this task will be used to upgrade the module, promote and disseminate the result of the project, strengthen the impact and increase sustainability.

The number of points on the tests from the practical and theoretical part of the exam, the total number of points achieved and the final grade for each of the subjects will be monitored through secondary outcomes.

Tertiary outcomes will monitor the results of retention of knowledge acquired through the learning process, at least 6 months after the end of the course.

This is the most complex segment of the project because it involves the implementation of a large number of solutions in MCPB modules for different courses in different medical fields.

This task is also crucial from the aspect of control, and for that it must pay special attention to quality control and the reporting process.

The Task product are created MCPB modules. Their quality control is carried out so that they could be applied in work with students. By testing the stability of the created MCPB modules in real-time use, the final assessment of the MCPB module is performed and all observed irregularities are corrected before the start of implementation.

During the development of the MCPB module, the language harmonization of the MCPB module will be performed in accordance with the needs of the partner WBC HEIs.

Different MCPB modules for different courses (fields of medicine) will first be implemented at UES, and then expanded through the partner network of WBC HEIs formed within this project.

After the implementation of MCPB modules in the first HEI, by sharing knowledge of project team members as a whole and within WGs and transferring experience in work and achieved levels of application of MCPB modules, uniformity of implementation of each module in all WBC HEIs will be achieved.

Each of the WBC HEIs will host at least one meeting to discuss the current level of implementation of the new learning model and define guidelines for further work.

As this task means narrowly specialized knowledge and application of a large number of software and design solutions, persons who possess this knowledge and skills will be engaged for these activities. As the project plans the application of the MCPB module in medical sciences, it is unrealistic to expect that level of necessary knowledge from doctors.

Teaching staff in this task monitor whether the development of software and design solutions meets the needs of the teaching process.

Based on their professional experience in the field of medicine, but also experience in the field of education, teachers approach the creation of ideas that need to be implemented MCPB modules for courses in the subjects in which they teach.

WGs in which teachers from different WBC HEIs participate, which are connected by the affiliation to the same medical field, brings together the best ideas and submits a PSC proposal for the selection of the best ideas. PSC chooses the best conceptual solutions. Teachers are informed in each of the WBC HEIs where conceptual solutions have been selected.

Based on the acquired knowledge, proposals for curriculum improvement in WBC HEIs are prepared. Each proposal will include the application of a new learning model using the MCPB module.

In accordance with the experience and recommendations of the EU HEIs, an integral part of harmonization will be reaching the necessary level of technical and IT equipment in each WBC HEIs, so that MCPB modules can be implemented. This includes putting the purchased equipment into operation and establishing its working capacity.

The implementation of all sub-activities of WP2 creates preconditions for the development and implementation of MCPB modules.

Three visits to EU partners will be organized, during which trainings of teaching staff and administrative and technical staff of WBC HEIs will be conducted (training of future trainers). During the visit to the partner EU HEIs, the staff of WBC HEIs will be acquainted with the necessary capacities that need to be established in the parent WBC HEIs in order for the MCPB modules to be implemented.

The first visit is organized in UoB, and will include training of trainers for teaching staff and training of trainers for administrative and technical staff. After the first visit, WBC HEIs staff will be able to start with the harmonization of conditions between HEIs for the implementation of the MCPB module.

The second training of trainers will be conducted in MUI. In this HEI training of trainers (teaching staff) WBC HEIs will be conducted in the field of application of new learning models in basic medical fields and in certain clinical fields. A special part of the training will be conducted at the University Clinic of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine in Innsbruck.

The third training of trainers will be organized in UoB. The application of new learning models in second group of the clinical medical fields will be especially discussed at this training.

Upon completion of all study visits, as part of this activity, WBC HEIs staff will acquire all the necessary knowledge necessary to conduct a further training process upon return to their HEIs. They will complete the knowledge for the creation, design and implementation of MCPB modules.

Staff trained in the process of training of trainers will transfer knowledge and organize trainings for the use of the new learning model in their WBC HEIs. Training of teaching and technical-administrative staff within WBC HEIs will be conducted. This achieves further knowledge transfer to all staff within WBC HEIs, which is necessary for the implementation of the MCPB module as a new learning model.

This Task is the basis for adequate planning of the entire WP2, but also for the implementation of the project as a whole.

Based on all reports, periodic reports will be created during the project, and a Final Report at the end of the project. After the reports are prepared, they are submitted to the PSC for consideration and then to the PCB for adoption.

All reports will be posted on the site in a special section related to reporting and will be available to the EACEA and the public for review immediately upon adoption.

Upon completion of the EACEA project, a Final Report (FR) will be submitted with the final results of the project, information and a report on the funds spent and assets spent, the contribution of each project participant and proposed measures to achieve sustainable project results.

Monitoring of the process of implementation of project activities and evaluation of success will be based on two cycles of evaluation, specifically Formative evaluation and Summative evaluation. The formative evaluation involves testing the validity of the implementation of project activities during the project and provides an opportunity to identify and correct possible errors. A positive assessment of formative evaluations is a condition for the continuation of project activities. Student satisfaction with the new learning model will also be assessed through a formative evaluation. The Summative evaluation includes summarizing the results of the formative evaluations and determining the fulfilment of the methodological and technical components of the project as a whole. It will answer the question of whether the set specific goals of the project have been achieved. The entire evaluation process will be the basis for the correction and upgrade of project activities.

QAC conducts internal controls-audits of the implementation of project activities and reports to the PSC and PBC. During the project, QAC will continuously perform quality control, and project activities will be monitored through a multi-stage evaluation. QAC will monitor and supervise the quality of all phases and activities of the project. The QAC will review and adopt project quality standards and procedures.

The instructions on the implementation of project activities of the ProBLeMS project will contain a guide on financial management and all the elements necessary for quality management of data on financial flows. This guidance will be provided to all project stakeholders affecting financial flows. Record keeping, data storage and reporting in the financial segment will be harmonized between HEIs, which will enable more adequate implementation of financial obligations, as well as reporting on financial flows.

The control of the financial parameters of the project will be an integral part within the internal controls-audits that will be conducted by QAC.

Human resource management will be focused primarily on the transfer of knowledge of EU partners to the teaching staff of WBC HEIs, and then on strengthening the capacity of administrative and technical staff necessary for the implementation of learning through the MCPB module. Adequate human resource management will enable WBC HEIs to obtain teaching staff fully trained to design and implement the MCPB module, as a new learning concept. Also, WBC HEIs will have administrative staff trained to monitor teaching requirements with MCPB modules.

Management of technical resources will be aimed at creating conditions for the smooth application of the new learning concept, but also for its further development. Procurement of the necessary equipment for the implementation of the project in WBC HEIs will also be carried out. Procurement of equipment must result in the establishment of technical and information capacities that will be able to monitor the development of human resources capacity and which will, in addition to the implementation of project activities, enable further development and expansion of MCPB modules in knowledge acquisition. In order to increase the usability of equipment in WBC HEIs, the procurement of equipment will be carried out in the 1st year of the project - as soon as possible in accordance with local administrative rules.

Organization of the administration – it will include defining and regulating the roles of all stakeholders in the project, competencies, harmonization of decision-making models, determining the authority and support, all with the aim of coordinated project implementation. The Project Consortium Board (PCB) will be formed first, which will then establish the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) at the first meeting. The PCB will have 4 meetings. The first (constitutive) in Foca and then once at the end of each project year in different HEIs. The PSC will have meetings whenever the PCB has them and 5 additional meetings.

At the first meeting of the PCB, the Instruction on the implementation of project activities will be adopted (which will contain all the necessary guides, plans, etc.) and the model of project quality control will be determined. Instructions on the implementation of project activities will include: project coordination plan, quality control plan, communication management guide, risk management guide, asset management guide - financial management, conflict resolution template to ensure effective project implementation with reports on administrative and financial management, etc.

Each of the WBC HEIs will select one person to be the local coordinator (LC) for the implementation of the MCPB module in that HEIs. LC will be the representative of WBC HEIs in PSC. WG for basic areas of medicine, WG for clinical areas of medicine, WG for preventive medicine and WG for Medical Statistics will be organized. WG coordinators will be appointed.

Modalities of contribution to the project by sector representative institutions will be defined.

As the project team has a complex structure, a system of communication, control and coordination between institutions and individuals will be created.

A project website will be created which, in addition to providing the public with the work on the project, will also have a role in disseminating the results, ensuring the visibility of the project, increasing the impact of the project, communication of participants, etc.

If the project is accepted, all Consortium member institutions will sign a contract with precisely defined obligations in accordance with the rules of the Erasmus + call and in accordance with the project proposal.

Overall management of project activities will include ongoing management and preparatory activities, minutes of meetings, project progress documentation, financial management, reporting and all other activities to ensure the smooth running of the project in each partner institution.

This activity will be implemented during the project duration. The project coordinator as the WP leader should ensure that all plans are observed as a basis for project management.