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LIFELONG LEARNING FEATURES OF SOME SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. PROBLEM OF QUALITY
OF EDUCATION
INTERNSHIPS AND WORK IN THE STUDENT ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AS FORMS OF LIFELONG EDUCATION IN MEDICAL SCIENCE
M. Yu. Averyanov, V. G. Gaar,
N. E. Slesarev, A. A. Shevchenko,
V. A. Fetisov
Modern trends of modernization and reform of higher education are accompanied by improvement of material and technical maintenance of all its structural units, and the implementation of modern information and applied learning technology. The innovative development of education and science is the key factor of reforms. The constant monitoring of the training level of future doctors indicates that the active implementation of innovative forms and techniques along with the improvement of existing teaching methods is currently the objective demand for the training of highly qualified specialists.
However, it is important that the great traditions of the domestic medical school are not lost within the switch to the uniform system of the general education standard based on the European requirements. As is known, its advantage has always been in ensuring the closest contact between student and patient, including the demonstration of patients with case diseases at lectures and supervision during practical classes. Their complete rejection would not contribute to the adequate formation of the student’s clinical thinking, the development of creativity and independence. And from this point of view, the early student’s contact with the clinical environment during the internship starting from the first year is undoubtedly a positive aspect. As is known, the state educational standard for higher vocational education with a degree in Medical Care including the draft of a new federal educational standard does not regulate the amount of practical skills that should be acquired by students during the summer internship after each course. Within the practical training, students work in medical institutions as nurses, paramedics, and assistants to clinical physicians, district and ambulance doctors at different stages of the university education. Currently, an
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internship program of nursing care for first-year students ia being developed. Practical training is the most essential element in the training of medical staff, and should be an integral part of the teaching process. This form of training undoubtedly contributes to the development of students’ professional motivation and the choice of a future specialty.
In reference to the above mentioned, the importance of practical training is highly estimated at Kirov State Medical Academy. The program of practical training for students is designed; the list of practical skills that should be acquired is approved; the standard workbooks have been created for each course. The work is carried out at the principal medical institutions of the city and other regions and is supervised by instructors who regularly communicate with students and their supervisors — the departments’ and institutions’ chiefs and chief nurses. The training ends with an exam and the overall results are discussed at the meeting of the academic board. The goal of practical training, in particular, includes the acquisition of required skills and also contributes to the development of responsibility and ethical concepts as well as respect for the future profession. Furthermore, within the practice the students familiarize themselves with the work of individual structural units of the medical institution as well as practical health service in general. The clinical training under the teacher’s supervision is an important factor ensuring the continuity and optimization of the educational process and, from this perspective, should logically complete each specific stage of the university education. In contrast to the purely “mechanical” exercising of the technical elements of a certain procedure on high-tech training equipment (waxworks, phantoms) which is now widely applied in the centers of manipulation skills, the independent student’s work at the medical institutions’ departments gives him / her confidence in his / her own forces. The natural ambition for improvement of practical skills, even as an assistant at early stages, is a motivating factor for self-education. The orientation on the development of students’ activity, independence and creativity is an innovative element in the training system of higher medical education.
The improvement of the practical training of future doctors should be focused and consistent. The inter-department succession and coordination of practical training as a form of vocational lifelong education will provide high-quality training of the graduates who will be capable to make decisions and implement the acquired knowledge and skills in their work. The summer internship in foreign clinics on the contract or exchange basis is also considered promising. The active independent students’ work is an important form of the educational process solving the basic task of higher ed-
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ucation which is to train a modern competent specialist capable of implementing the innovative technologies in his / her work. Within lifelong development, extracurricular independent work stimulates the student’s creative abilities and optimizes the acquisition of knowledge.
The participation in the work of the elective and academic community of young students and researchers is also an integral part of vocational lifelong education. Individual research activities either jointly or under supervision of eminent scientists promotes ambitions and discipline in students and young professionals normalizing and structuring their lives, helping in advanced studies of theoretical and practical issues required for a future profession. The academic work started in student years is a platform for future achievements, career growth and, hence, for happiness and confidence in tomorrow.
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