The digital learning environment and the ability to create and utilize versatile teaching materials and activities enhance the skills of healthcare teachers and researchers, providing them with diverse opportunities to function as developers and innovators in their educational institutions as well as in various projects now and in the future.
For healthcare students, digitalization and access to suitable equipment during their studies open doors to joint collaboration platforms, easing the learning process irrespective of concrete learning materials, time, place, or economic and social factors.
Students are enabled to use active and student-centered methods in both physical and online learning environments, which support their capacity-building and develop their critical thinking from the perspective of their own field of study and research. Most importantly, it provides them with opportunities to network on international platforms and exchange experiences and expertise.
In the DigiCare project, the main focus was on acquiring up-to-date equipment, devices, and technology that facilitate learning progress and enable project work, primarily aimed at updating the educational ecosystem of our Asian partner institutions. Partner HEIs procured laptops, tablets, desktop computers, multimedia projectors, interactive whiteboards, internet control devices, cameras for documenting study exercises, lecture recording equipment, speakers for classrooms, printers, and copiers for developing teaching materials.
Moreover, partner HEIs created new study spaces where the equipment was utilized during the pilot studies of courses and project participation, and they enhanced existing study spaces with the new equipment. The new devices also allowed consortium members to actively participate in project work. The diverse digital tools played a particularly significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when project and teaching activities largely shifted to online environments.
The comprehensive support of EU projects, which allows for development work in partner HEIs, including targeted support for necessary equipment, is truly significant.
Post-installation development of various activities during the project period enables the appropriate and innovative use of devices in the future, as partners have access to support from European facilitators and local experts. The growth of digital and pedagogical capacity and competence during the DigiCare project has been tangible, and as a facilitator, we couldn’t be prouder of the fantastic work done by our Asian partners.
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