What it Means to Be a Mobile Medical Student in Europe,

Today?

Valpuri Saarinen, Vice President of FiMSAAMSE Annual Meeting in Turku 5.9.2005

What it means to be a mobile medical student?

• be 20-25 years old on average

• be confused with almost anything

• have no money

Social Services

• low-cost housing, warm meals and

health care

• studying facilities

• guidance and psychological counceling

Vital in true integration

• help with sports and making new friends

• language support

• chance to be an active member in the

local academic community

Loans, grants, working, parental aid, ...

• higher degree holder status in today’s Europe

• student status in today’s Europe

• Student aid should be fully portable

Tuition Fees

“…ESIB is opposed to any tuition fees; no matter if they are raised in public, private or for-profit systems. Tuition fees are a tool of exclusion and hinder free access to Higher education throughout the world. ESIB further believes that Education is a basic human right and has to be accessible to as many people as possible.”

ESIB Policy on Commodification of Education

Recognition of studies

• Major obstacle on medical student mobility in Europe is the difficulty to get one’s studies recognized at home

• An exchange period usually leads to a one year drop in the studies

Bologna Approach to Mobility

Practical Approach to Mobility:

carefully designed exchange programs

for medical students

Of all stakeholders in education,

students should by definition be the most fresh

in their approach to finding solutions.

IFMSA’s

Medical Education

Group

General AssemblyEgypt August 2005