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Project name: "Improving Child Care Training as a Model for Modernizing Postgraduate Medical Education in Central Asia"

Acronym: ChildCA

Registration number: 598399- EPP -1-2018-1- IT - EPPKA 2- CBHE - JP

Term implementation : 01/15/2019 – 01/14/2022

Target : To improve child care in Central Asian countries through new curricula and new teaching strategies to reduce child mortality and morbidity among children and adolescents.

Tasks project :

• To study and analyze user needs to improve postgraduate education in child care;

• Development of new curricula in the fields of pediatrics, pediatric surgery and child neuropsychiatry based on the best practices of European partners.

• Training of academic staff involved in updating new integrated curricula;

• Create an interactive platform for effective virtual interaction between partner universities and distance learning for project participants;

• Providing a process that ensures project results meet established standards and objectives;

• Dissemination and publication of project results.

Project website :  

Composition of the Consortium project :

Target groups of the project:

Faculty and Researchers
The main goal is to improve the qualifications of medical university faculty in the fields of pediatrics, pediatric surgery, and child neuropsychiatry, as well as the implementation of modern educational technologies and teaching methods.

Students and trainees in medical specialties
The project aims to improve the quality of training for students and residents through the implementation of updated educational programs and practice-oriented training.

Higher education institutions (universities)
Modernization of educational programs and introduction of new teaching approaches, as well as development of institutional potential of universities in Central Asia.

Medical specialists and healthcare institutions
Improving the level of training of doctors (pediatricians, surgeons, child psychiatrists) and improving the quality of medical care for children.

Government agencies and stakeholders
Development of interaction with healthcare and education authorities to improve the personnel training system and implement the project results.

Key results:

Educational programs :

As part of the Erasmus + ChildCA project , the 91��ý Kazakh National University has developed an educational residency program, "Integrated Social and Clinical Pediatrics ," aimed at modernizing the training of pediatricians in accordance with international standards. The program is based on the best practices of European partners (UEMS, European Academy of Pediatrics , educational models of Germany, Poland and Italy) and adapted to the national healthcare system of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A key feature of the program is its shift from the traditional clinically-oriented training model to an integrated approach that combines clinical, preventive, and social pediatrics. The training focuses not only on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases but also on maintaining the child's health, early detection of developmental disorders, and consideration of environmental and family factors.

The program has a modular structure and provides for the gradual development of professional competencies: from basic training to specialized training, with a gradual increase in physician independence. Modern educational technologies, including e- learning and blended learning, are integrated into the educational process. learning and elements of virtual mobility.

The educational program underwent a multi-level review process involving the professional community, government agencies, and clinical experts, and was included in the national register of educational programs (ESUVO).

Discussion and testing of the educational program

The educational program has undergone a multi-level expert evaluation and testing :

1. Professional community (national level):
   October 30, 2020 — a round table with the participation of 24 specialists in the field of pediatrics from leading medical universities and academies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Expert opinions and proposals on the structure and content of the OP were received;

2. State level:

December 23, 2020 — a round table with representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the National Erasmus + Office , discussing the relevance and compliance of state policy in the field of healthcare and education;

3. Institutional level (internal approval):

01.03.2021 — review and approval by the Methodological Council of the Higher School of Medicine of 91��ý Kazakh National University ;

4. External expert assessment (clinical base):

March 11, 2021 — reviewed by the Scientific Council of JSC Scientific Center for Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery ; reviews and recommendations from leading experts were received.

5. Extended National Professional Discussion:

10.02.2022, 25.02.2022, 25.03.2022 — online meetings were held with the participation of heads of pediatrics departments of leading medical universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan (West Kazakhstan Medical University named after M. Ospanov , MUA, ICTU named after Yasawi, KRMU, etc.), based on the results of which reviews and expert opinions were received and the structure of the educational program was finalized.

The implementation of this program creates the basis for training a new generation of specialists focused on a comprehensive approach to protecting children's health and improving the quality of medical care.

Certification courses:

• Certification Course in Cardiology (Pediatric) 24 credits (720 hours)

• Certification Course in Pulmonology (Pediatric) 24 credits (720 hours)

Approval was received from the expert commission of the State Unitary Enterprise Committee for Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Pulmonology of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan (minutes of meeting No. 3 of March 5, 2022 and No. 5 of March 24, 2022).

Advanced training 

• From May 13 to November 2021 22 participants successfully completed online training in the subjects "Introduction to Medical Genetics" and "Bioethics" and received the corresponding certificates.

The course materials were integrated into educational programs:

• “Bioethics” — in the discipline “Fundamentals of Bioethics” (3 credits) of the educational program “Nursing” (bachelor’s degree);

• "Introduction to Medical Genetics" - in the "General Medicine" program (section "Medical Genetics", 3 credits, discipline "Disease Protection").

• In May 2021, the international course
  "Medical Training and Education in the Digital Age: Prospects and Challenges" (4 modules) was implemented. Twenty-four KazNU faculty members participated in the course and received international certificates (EDEN).

To introduce modern educational technologies, a methodological seminar was held on October 7, 2021, with 32 participants . The acquired knowledge and course materials are currently being integrated into the educational process of the Department of Fundamental Medicine , including the use of e- learning , blended. learning and interactive teaching methods.

• 3 teachers of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health KazNU students completed a short-term international internship at three European partner universities (the University of Pavia, the University of Freiburg, and the Jagiellonian University), which contributed to enhancing their professional competencies and transferring best European practices to medical education.

Laboratories

As part of the ChildCA project , a modern classroom equipped with multimedia technology for digital and hybrid learning was created and equipped at KazNU.

The equipment included:

• large interactive screen/panel for online classes and video conferences (Zoom, etc.);

• computer equipment;

• video camera and audio equipment for organizing distance learning;

• means of connection to digital educational platforms.

The infrastructure created played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the continuity of the educational process and the transition to online and hybrid learning formats.

The experience of implementing modern equipment within the project became a model for scaling:

• similar equipment was subsequently purchased and implemented in other departments of the university;

• the digitalization of the educational environment of the entire university has increased;

• readiness to use distance and blended forms of learning has increased.

Other results

The ChildCA project has established a sustainable cooperation network between universities in the European Union and Central Asia, aimed at developing medical education, research, and academic mobility.

During the project, the following areas of interaction were implemented:

• a regional professional association of Central Asian specialists (including in the field of dentistry) was initiated to coordinate educational and scientific initiatives;

• Cooperation with universities in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan , has been expanded (including the conclusion of cooperation agreements following a visit to specialized institutions in Tashkent);

• academic links have been established aimed at developing academic mobility and exchange of experience ;

• Representatives of KazNU took part in international expert activities, including accreditation of educational programs in pediatrics in Tajikistan ;

• Scientific cooperation has been developed, including publications in specialized scientific journals of Tajikistan and the exchange of scientific materials.

• conferences, seminars and training events were held ;

• The integration of international experience into educational programs has been ensured.

• The project's impact on scientific research is particularly significant:
  within the project and based on its results , dissertations are being conducted on current issues in children's health, including autism and cerebral palsy (CP) . This ensures the sustainability of the project's results and their further development in scientific and educational practice.

Project coordinator: Issayeva Raushan Binomovna

Coordinator’s contacts: issayeva.raushan1@gmail.com 

VIDEO about the project in 3 languages