Welcome, Orientation, Language Training: a project at the Charité for new international medical students

Abstract

Objective: A comprehensive, integrated support programme for new international students of medicine has been developed, implemented and evaluated at the Charité. The objectives of the programme were improved social integration, orientation on the study program and Charité campus, as well as qualification in medical specialist language.Project outline: The “Charité Orientation Module for International Students” (ChOIS) was designed by a working group with a variety of expertise in the field of international students. The programme has three stages: ChoOIS was piloted in the Winter Semester 2015/16 and, following evaluation, continued in a modified form in the Summer Semester 2016. Key features were: Results: Results of evaluations conducted after the orientation weeks, at the end of the semester and retrospectively in the 3rd semester produced high approval ratings of the individual features of the ChOIS-programme and of the programme as a whole by participating students. Discussion: A comprehensive, integrated support programme for new international students of medicine has been developed and implemented. The ChOIS-programme can serve as a practice model to guide other medical faculties. In future, a programme that goes beyond the start of the course and includes more involvement by senior students would be desirable.

Keywords

• international students
• undergraduate medical education
• preparation courses