The Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University held an informative event focused on internships and study stays abroad, which introduced students to unique opportunities to develop their professional skills and gain international experience. Students of Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes had the opportunity to learn key information about mobility programmes, funding and support opportunities, and to meet those who have already completed an internship or study stay.
Participants learned about the opportunities to go abroad through various programmes such as ERASMUS+ Study and Work Placements, ERASMUS+ ICM, FREEMOVERS, Special Grants for Short-term Placements and IFMSA Clinical and Research Internships. In addition, the students learned about the compulsory internships abroad in PhD programmes and the possibilities of funding in the form of scholarships.
The event took place in the form of a small fair. Students who have already completed their internship shared not only the experiences and benefits of their experience abroad, but also the whole process of administering the trip. The participants of the event could meet with Bc. Zuzana Pilátová from the International Studies Office, who helps students with the organization of these trips and ask her about the administrative requirements of the trips. In addition, representatives of mobility programmes from among the students were present to provide practical advice and answer questions about applications and the organisation of internships.
Vojtěch Chudý talked about his IFMSA clinical internship in Jordan: "At the University of Jordan I expanded my clinical skills such as working with ultrasound, evaluating CT, MRI and X-ray images, and gained valuable experience in emergency care. The biggest benefit was the improvement of my communication skills in English and the individual attention provided by the locals. This internship also allowed me to learn about a new culture and travel throughout Jordan."
Daniel Vodák shared his experience from his internship in Hawaii: "During my stay in Hawaii, I interned for a whole summer at the Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience institution as part of the program for translational research and innovation in neuroscience. I found out about the internship opportunity on their website, sent in an application, and after a month I was offered a position at the clinic. I particularly benefited from gaining experience with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in neurology. My greatest joy was the great collaboration with the other team members, both doctors and students from the US and UK. My mentor was Dr. Kore Kai Liow."
The event showed that foreign internships bring students not only professional knowledge and skills, but also international contacts, new perspectives and confidence in communicating in a foreign language. Students emphasized that these placements can better prepare them for their future careers and at the same time help them grow personally through new cultural experiences. Visitors were able to be inspired by the successes of their classmates.
