Eng
Eng
Academician of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine, Honored Inventor, Rector of Odessa Medical University (1994-2018) Valerii Zaporozhan – about digital technologies, plans for the 120th anniversary of the university and priorities for the coming academic year.
A crisis is an opportunity. With this motto, Odessa Medical University approached quarantine. Students were transferred to distance learning and, moreover, a number of projects to digitize the educational process have been conceived. We talked with the Chairman of the Academic Council of ONMedU, Academician Valerii Zaporozhan, about the results of the academic year, the situation at the university and plans for the future.
This academic year was difficult for many, primarily due to the quarantine and the emergency introduction of distance learning. Did Odessa Medical University cope with it?
I’ll start with the fact that the quarantine has taught everyone a lot, especially the education system. Nowadays, information technology cannot be underestimated. I know that many colleagues from other universities did not pay due attention to this until March this year. Odessa Medical University, in my opinion, coped with the situation very well. There were no failures, the educational process was not interrupted.
We had been working on distance learning for a long time, we have had digitized lectures and workshops, educational materials before. Students prepared for classes with the help of video lessons on the university’s youtube channel.We have had an online library for several years, which has all the teaching materials in different languages, including materials from Yale University, Stanford and others. Students always have access to it.
Of course, at first it was unusual and uncomfortable. I can say from my own experience that it is difficult for a lecturer to “hold” the audience’s attention when there is no direct contact. But I recommend everyone to take such challenges as a new experience, which, as you know, is not superfluous.
All crisis managers will agree with you.
All crisis managers will agree with you.In my opinion, nowadays a good manager can not afford not to be like that. Crises are painful, but transformations begin instead. Now there is a pandemic – we coped and switched to distance learning. A year ago, no one could have guessed. In the late 1990s, when there came a question of being a university or not, we introduced English language teaching and attracted international students. We began to earn and modernize the university. It was not easy, lots of people criticized us. But we did it. Every person, business, industry needs a shock. Otherwise, there is a risk of ossification. But this is, in my opinion, a real trouble.
As far as we know, ONMedU is implementing several projects in the field of digitalization. What are the main ones and the timing of their implementation?
Digitalization is a new definition for Ukraine. And I am glad that for the first time in all the years of Independence this has been talked about at the highest level. To resist change is to lose. Therefore, nowadays one of the main tasks is to keep up with the times. I do not want to offend colleagues, but Odessa University was one of the first to move in this direction.
A unique online library was created, which I have already mentioned. Ambitions for the next 5 years are “electronic university”. That is a university in which all educational content of all faculties and departments will be digitized. Digitized jobs and document flow for teachers: databases, information, curricula. We also want to transform “paper” scientific journals of our publishing house into electronic format. Today it is more than 500 publications. So, that means a lot of work.
Communication between the teacher and the student is also very important in terms of motivation to learn. Has quarantine become a “vacation” for students?
Students are autonomous people. Believe me, if someone wants to arrange a “vacation” in the middle of the academic year, he will do so without a quarantine. It is a matter of self-discipline and willingness to take responsibility, because there are no concessions at the session. However, the vast majority of medical students are highly motivated and organized people. I do not want to offend students of other specialties, but they do not enter medical universities in order not to do anything. Learning the medical profession is very difficult and, what is more, this training lasts a lifetime. A doctor who has completed his studies in the sixth year and once completed advanced training courses is an unqualified doctor. I do not want anyone to come to him for a check-up or, even more , on the operating table. We prepare students for the fact that they will have to study until the last day in the profession: follow trends, read, participate in the maximum number of scientific conferences and symposia. Science is moving forward, new technologies, equipment, drugs, techniques are appearing – everything is improving. The doctor must keep up with these changes. Therefore, one of our principles is to teach tomorrow’s medical students.
I would like to return to the beginning of your question about communication. It did not interrupt. Our teachers are progressive, modern means of communication are not a problem for them. We went further and established direct communication between students not only with teachers, but also with the deans of their faculties with the help of Microsoft Teams. We ask students to take this opportunity to promptly report any issues that concern them or require management intervention.
An anonymous survey is conducted among students every year. They evaluate the work of departments, make their suggestions. If a teacher was dishonest, students also have the opportunity to report it anonymously.
When will the admission campaign start?
It is difficult to say for sure at the moment. Deadlines are constantly shifting and, unfortunately, the epidemiological situation in Ukraine remains difficult. We focus on the second half of August. Registration of electronic cabinets of entrants will begin on August 1 this year. We are ready for the start of the admission campaign. You know, relations with the Ministry of Health have returned to normal. We have received funding and government procurement. Therefore, this year we are recruiting for both free and commercial forms of education.
Comment on the information about the upcoming reorganization and the alleged dismissals.
You see, the constructiveness with the Ministry of Health and the full-time work of the university irritates a lot of people. Unfortunately, our opponents have made considerable efforts to destabilize the situation. Of course, they do not like that we managed to keep the team, save the students and the university itself. For two years they claimed the opposite, that everything was gone and the university had to be saved, that it was about to be destroyed. Rumors are a continuation of this attack. What’s really going on? There will be no disbandment, liquidation, whatever you want, of the University Clinic. This is a planned reorganization of units in accordance with the second stage of the medical reform, which, I want to remind you, our opponents passionately supported.
What will happen to the staff?
Everyone will stay at their jobs and continue to do their favorite work. That’s the whole “sensation”. University economists together with the ministry have already drawn up a staffing schedule. The budget for 2020 and 2021 has been approved. We will not lose any medical worker, or a teacher. Therefore, I have to upset the authors of the manipulation: the team will not intimidate you, we have a stable immunity.
When will the repair work resume?
Now tenders are underway, the process is slow. Renovation of two buildings of the University Clinic is planned. As a result, we are temporarily relocating employees to other buildings. In addition to repair work, we plan to purchase modern diagnostic and treatment equipment. Our clinics are equipped with the last word, but here, as with training, it is impossible to stop. Science is advancing, creating new devices needed by patients.
Tenders are held in accordance with the law, everything is open and transparent. The university is sometimes criticized for spending too much money on equipment. I already gave an example in one of the interviews, when the Accounting Chamber asked why we need such equipment, if the district hospitals somehow manage the samples of the middle of the last century. I would advise them to contact any resident of Odessa and ask on what equipment he would like to receive treatment and what level of medical care he would like to receive. I think the answer will be simple.
Name the priorities for the new academic year
I repeat, there is a lot of work – both at the university and abroad. In international activities, it is the intensification of cooperation programs. We are proud that our students and teachers can do internships in the best universities and clinics in the world. For our part, we also receive distinguished guests who hold master classes and give lectures. For this purpose, the Institute of Honorary Doctors was established at ONMedU. It is necessary to move forward, to promote the university in the world, to attract foreign lecturers and students.
As for the university itself, it is repairs, strengthening the social protection of the university staff and clinics, the implementation of digital projects. In general, this year is special for Odessa Medical University: it will be 120 years since its foundation. We are definitely preparing, but I will not open the cards yet. See for yourself in the fall. But I have no doubt that we will celebrate the anniversary with dignity.
Ukr