Inter-professional learning: Green Templeton College; the University of Oslo in Norway; Oxford Brookes University

Location:

When did you first introduce the innovation?

Between 12 and 24 months ago

Please describe the innovation you have developed

The MSc Management Health and Social Care team at Brookes have worked with partners at Green Templeton College Oxford and University of Oslo in Norway to promote and facilitate inter-professional learning opportunities between postgraduate medics, health economists and the professions supplementary to medicine.

Developed in 2013, the initiative involves an Erasmus exchange agreement (Oslo-Brookes) and a graduate seminar exhange programme (Brookes-Green Templeton college) which sees students and staff from all three institutions involved in collaborative seminars and symposia.

What prompted you to develop this innovation?

The innovation grew out of an abiding interest in promoting inter-professional learning opportunities for students in the Brookes Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, a growing interest in internationalisation of the curriculum; and augmented professional networks between Brookes, Green Templeton College, and Oslo colleagues.

In your view, what is it about this innovation that makes it different/important?

The emphasis on inter-professional and transnational learning opportunities.

To what extent does your innovation make use of existing approaches, resources or technologies?

The innovation is largely based on existing teaching formats and approaches but the triangulation of three different constituencies and the emphasis on inter-professional postgraduate education is distinctive.

To what degree has this innovation led to changes in education or clinical practice?

The initiative has palpably broadened the pool of teaching examples and learning resources employed on the Brookes MSc Management in Health and Social Care and has meant that in such modules as Managing Finance, students have benefited from examples and case studies drawn from different sectors and nations.

What evidence do you have of the impact of the innovation?

Highly positive student evaluations attest to the success of the initiative and a research collaboration between colleagues from all three institutions is now in process.

To what degree has the innovation been disseminated in your organisation or elsewhere?

Certain seminars and symposia associated with the initiative have been opened to a wider audience and disseminated across institutions; one such event was funded by an external sponsor.

Please provide details of any plans you have to disseminate the innovation in the future.

The current research collaboration will further disseminate the innovation and we hope to increase the numbers of students participating in the venture.