The third edition of the International Congress on Quality of Education ICEQ, whose main theme was the internationalization of education. The three-day meeting, organized on October 23-25 within the European City of Science Katowice 2024, was a space for discussion and share good practices concerning both internationalization of education and implemented didactic innovations at Polish and foreign universities. The organizers of the third edition of ICEQ were the universities associated in the Academic Consortium, including the Silesian Medical University in Katowice. 

As every year, the Congress program included a wide range of activities, including meetings, trainings, panel discussions and workshops led by experts in various fields. Thus, participants had the opportunity not only to gain new knowledge, but also to engage in practical activities, exchange good practices and create a network of professional contacts that will certainly result in cooperation on the international arena.

The Medical University of Silesia in Katowice was involved in the implementation of six events, which took place both in the building of the Center for Medical Didactics and Simulation at the Medical University of Silesia, the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice and the Silesian Museum. 

On the first day, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., an open training was held for all ŚUM academic teachers entitled “Activating, creative and innovative methods in academic didactics”, conducted by Justyna Bugaj, Ph.D., Professor of UEK – an expert in educational quality management.The training was attended by ŚUM teaching staff, who learned about modern, activating teaching methods that not only engage students, but also support their independent thinking and creativity.Among other things, we talked about gamification, brainstorming and mind maps.

On the same day, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., an internal meeting of the University’s Educational Quality Team was held with the University Authorities – the Vice Chancellor for Students and Programs, Prof. Jerzy Stojko; the Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Information Technology, M.Sc.

The meeting was held with the University Authorities – Pro Vice Chancellor for Students and Academic Affairs, Prof. Jerzy Stojko; Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Information Technology, Marcin Chabor, M.Sc.; Deans and Vice Deans of Faculties, representatives of the Senate Committee for Students, Students and Educational Programs and Quality, as well as Faculty Coordinators of the Erasmus + program.The topic of the meeting was the internationalization of our University.

It also included a discussion of the experiences and difficulties faced by students, doctoral students and employees of the Silesian Medical University in going abroad. The meeting made it possible to determine what corrective measures should be taken to increase the level of internationalization at our University.

From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, a meeting was held between the community of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice and students of high schools entitled “The impact of students on improving the quality of education at the Silesian Medical University in Katowice”.  The workshop was attended by 150 students from 5 general high schools:Stefan Batory High School III in Chorzów, Tadeusz Kosciuszko High School I in Myslowice, Wł. Broniewski High School V, S. Staszic High School IV with Bilingual Branches in Sosnowiec, Maria Konopnicka High School II with Bilingual Branches in Katowice.Numerous attractions were prepared for the workshop participants.Among others, a simulation room of a hospital emergency department and intensive care was presented.

Students were also able to enter an ambulance, learn about first aid, auscultate a patient and have their blood pressure measured. Particularly popular were the workshops a using AI, as well as the virtual reality show, during which participants donned VR goggles.Participation in the congress was also an excellent opportunity to learn about the activities of the ŚUM scientific circles and talk to students.A demonstration of battlefield medicine took place in front of the Center for Medical Didactics and Simulation in Katowice, where students learned how to apply tourniquets and dress hard-to-reach wounds.Invited guests were treated to freshly squeezed juice prepared by dietetics students of the Faculty of Public Health at the ŚUM in Bytom.

On the second day of the International Congress on Educational Quality, the ICEQ inauguration ceremony was held. The event was organized at the Silesian Museum.A number of other activities also took place on this day, in which representatives of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice also participated.

The first item on the agenda was a meeting entitled “Accreditation of courses conducted with foreign partners.Meeting of rectors and vice-rectors for education with representatives of the Ministry of Science and the Polish Accreditation Committee”. The event was attended by the Vice-Chancellor for Studies and Students of the ŚUM, Prof. Jerzy Stojko, PhD, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Bielska Tyszkiewicz University, Dr. n. chem. Katarzyna Dziubasik.

Shortly after the meeting concluded, the ICEQ was inaugurated, with participants taking part in a panel discussion that focused on the most effective methods of supporting international mobility. Experts from Poland, the U.S. and Turkey also discussed programs that enable effective exchange of academic staff and students, and shared experiences and best practices in this area.The panel discussion titled “Different perspectives of student and staff mobility” was also attended by the Rector of ŚUM, Prof. Tomasz Szczepański, MD. The panel included Prof. Larry Jackson, Columbia University, USA; Dr. Emre Erol, Sabancı University, Turkey; Dr. Agnieszka Turska-Kawa, Prof. UŚ, Vice Rector for Science at the University of Silesia

A final panel discussion is scheduled for 2:45 pm titled “Accessibility of higher education for international students on the example of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice”. The panel discussed the strategies of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice for the accessibility of education for international students.Challenges and solutions for integrating students of different cultures, as well as ensuring equal access to educational resources and academic support were also analyzed.

Another important item on the agenda was the presentation of KRAUM’s recommendations for World Federation for Medical Education accreditation of medical graduates and discussion of initiatives to promote multiculturalism at the university.

The panelists also touched on the accreditation of medical faculty at Polish universities, made on June 5 by The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).

The decision means that Polish medical universities, including ŚUM, can apply to participate in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan, which allows American students to apply for funding to study at Polish medical universities. The moderator of the meeting was Prof. Aleksandra Kawczyk-Krupka, MD – Chair of the Quality of Education Subteam for the medical faculty of ŚUM.  The panel included: prof. dr. hab. n.med. and n. o zdr. Małgorzata Skucha-Nowak, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, ŚUM; Prof. dr. hab. n. med. i n. o zdr. Tomasz Francuz, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice ŚUM; dr. n. med. Brygida Przywara-Chowaniec, Chairwoman of the Sub Team for Educational Quality for the faculties of medical and dental sciences, medical emergency medicine SUM; dr. hab. n. pharm. Ewa Chodurek, prof. of the SUM – Plenipotentiary of the Rector for Educational Quality; Dr. Jerry Jacob – recruiter from the USA; Abdullah Alam and Ahmad Dafallah – students of the medical faculty of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice SUM; Doct. Dent. Amir Sayderamizamostfavi, an English-speaking student and a student at the SUM Doctoral School.

This year’s ICEQ was also attended by representatives of the University of Thrace in Stara Zagora, who flew to Katowice to sign an agreement and strengthen international academic cooperation with the Silesian Medical University in Katowice.

Prof. Galina Mratskova from the University of Trakai in Stara Zagora was invited to participate in a panel discussion on “European values and education in higher education institutions.”That day, in addition to participating in the congress, the delegation also had the opportunity to visit the Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice. Within the framework of the second day of ICEQ, Prof. Galina Mratskova and Prof. Ruska Paskaleva, Head of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Ergotherapy, Physical Medicine and Sports at the University of Thrace, took part in the official inauguration of the congress, which provided an excellent opportunity to meet with the Rector of the Silesian Medical University, Prof. Tomasz Szczepanski.On Friday, a meeting was held at the Rector’s Office of ŚUM and the signing of a letter of intent – an agreement between the University of Thrace in Stara Zagora and the Silesian Medical University in Katowice. (https://sum.edu.pl/en/news/general/cooperation-between-medical-university-of-silesia-and-trakia-university-in-bulgari )

The organizers of the International Congress on Educational Quality were the universities included in the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science:

• Silesian Medical University in Katowice,
• Silesian University in Katowice,
• Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice,
• Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice,
• Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice,
• Silesian University of Technology,
• University of Economics in Katowice.

The event was co-sponsored by the Silesian Voivodeship Co-organizer European City of Science Katowice 2024.