Fachhochschule Campus Wien

Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme "Vienna Medical Imaging Technology (ViMiTech 23)" at FH Campus Wien

As part of the first BIP at FH Campus Wien, students and lecturers from seven countries discussed current trends and challenges in radiological technology.

Objectives

The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme ‘ViMiTech 23’ aimed at promoting international exchange on new technologies as well as current and future challenges in the field of Radiological Technology. The focus was on teaching new 3D technologies that are not yet integrated into radiological technology curricula and embedding them in an international context.

Background

In August and September 2023, the Bachelor's degree programme in Radiological Technology coordinated the first Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme at FH Campus Wien, ‘ViMiTech 23’. Thanks to close cooperation with the International Office and the universities involved in the consortium, a total of 45 students and 6 lecturers from Greece (University of West Attica), Ireland (University College Dublin), Malta (University of Malta), Slovenia (University of Ljubljana), Portugal (Politecnico de Lisboa and Polytechnic Institute of Porto), Egypt (Pharos University) and Austria (FH Campus Wien) were recruited for the programme. Due to the successful implementation, a second round of the programme is already in the starting blocks.

(Implemented) Activities

Virtual components The BIP included virtual sessions both before and after the physical meeting: The first virtual teaching phase offered participants the opportunity to get to know each other and to get in the mood for the content on ‘Medical Imaging and 3D Visualisation in Radiological Technology’. The organisation of both synchronous and asynchronous learning phases was carried out using digital tools and aimed at optimally preparing the students for learning and working together during the physical meeting in Vienna. The virtual phase following the face-to-face part was used to jointly reflect on the practical experience as well as the learning outcomes achieved and to define topics for final theses as well as further Bachelor's or Master's theses. The virtual components each lasted five days and were didactically supported by Radiological Technology lecturers at FH Campus Wien. Physical component For the physical mobility, participants from Greece, Ireland, Malta, Slovenia, Portugal and Egypt travelled to Austria to get to know new (radiological) technologies in practice together with local students and lecturers from FH Campus Wien. Application-oriented exercises on creating 3D models from medical cross-sectional images, 3D printing of anatomical structures, AR/VR visualisations and machine analysis of medical image data were carried out in the laboratories at FH Campus Wien. The practical laboratory exercises were theoretically framed by lectures by internationally recognised experts. In addition, the students had the opportunity to take an in-depth look at potential career fields and discuss the relevance of what they had learnt for their future work as radiologic technologists. The mobility at FH Campus Wien lasted five days and, in addition to relevant practical and theoretical content, also included professionally supervised intercultural training and a varied social programme, in the planning and implementation of which the local students were actively involved.

Results

+ Due to its versatility and flexibility, the BIP represents a particularly suitable Erasmus+ format for the degree programme to promote intensive professional and international exchange of knowledge and skills and to implement Internationalisation@home. + The participation of students and lecturers from seven different countries and different subject areas created a unique international and interdisciplinary cooperation space, from whose diversity of perspectives and innovative strength all participants benefited. + By working in an international consortium, the teachers involved had the opportunity to exchange ideas about different teaching content and methods and to try these out in practice. + The flexibility and brevity of the BIP format also gives students who are not otherwise mobile the opportunity to gain international experience, engage in dialogue, broaden their horizons and thus bring innovation and new insights to their respective higher education institutions. The international exchange and the consideration of different perspectives and experiences inspired some participants to develop innovative ideas for their Bachelor's or Master's theses. + As part of the BIP, both long-standing cooperation with universities was deepened and contacts were established with new higher education institutions, which represent important resources for future international cooperation for the degree programme and FH Campus Wien. Particularly noteworthy is the expansion of the existing network to include another university (Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt) from a third country not associated with the Erasmus+ programme. + The BIP also enabled the degree programme to present FH Campus Wien to an international audience as an important location for innovative, forward-looking technologies.

Lessons learned

The organisational effort involved in coordinating a BIP should not be underestimated, especially if it is the first time. Careful planning with appropriate lead time as well as good coordination and communication with the partner universities and the International Office are essential. However, practical experience from the first cycle can be utilised in subsequent cycles. Repetitions of the BIP in subsequent academic years are therefore always desirable.

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