Faculty of Medicine

New Partnerships

Der Dekan mit der Delegation aus Zaporizhzhia

New Partnership with Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University

The Faculty of Medicine has established a strategic partnership for collaborations in research and education with Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University. As a first step, three professors from Zaporizhzhia came to Bern in November for a one-week working visit. They met with experts in their field at the Inselspital and the Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern and identified common interests.

In November 2024, a delegation from the Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University traveled to Bern for a 5-day visit. The three professors from the departments of Disaster and Military Medicine, Traumatology and Orthopedics, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology met on the first day with our Dean, Prof. Claudio Bassetti, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Swiss Confederation, Ms. Iryna Venediktova.

Gruppenbild
The delegations from Zaporizhzhia and Bern at the meeting with Ambassador Iryna Venediktova (centre)

They were then hosted by the Department of Emergency Medicine (Prof. Aristomenis Exadaktylos), the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology (Prof. Thomas Lustenberger), and the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Prof. Kristina Adorjan).

Video about this visit

In the video, the visitors from Zaporizhzhia and their hosts in Bern explain what they take away from the exchange.

The Ukrainian delegation had the opportunity to visit the REGA base in Belp and gain insights into the Swiss emergency services and emergency medicine. In addition, current and future cooperation in research and education was discussed in detail. Cooperation projects will be implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the visit.

Orthopedic surgeon Maksym Kozhemiaka in the OR at Inselspital

“The Faculty of Medicine is committed to sustainability when it comes to collaborations with other medical faculties. This Memorandum of Understanding will prepare the ground for what we hope will be a successful collaboration with Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University,” says Professor Aristomenis Exadaktylos, Vice-Dean Internationalization and National Networking.

 

 

Skyline von Singapur

New Partnership with the National University of Singapore

The Faculty of Medicine has established a strategic partnership for collaborations in research and education with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine of the National University of Singapore, one of the leading medical schools in Asia.

It is a strategic goal of the Faculty of Medicine to further expand its international orientation through partnerships with selected medical schools. International networking not only increases the visibility and reputation of our Faculty, but also strengthens its excellence in research, teaching, and training.

Founded in 1905, the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is one of the leading medical schools in the Asia-Pacific region. It is ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the world.

More collaboration and exchange

Last year, the first meeting at the faculty management level took place in Singapore. The Dean, Prof. Claudio Bassetti, and the Vice Dean for Internationalization, Prof. Stephan Windecker, participated. The second meeting has now taken place, this time in Bern. Led by the Dean of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Prof. Yap Seng Chong, a delegation of 12 people visited Bern from January 29 to 31, 2024, and gained first-hand insights into our medical campus.

Die beiden Dekane beim Handschlag nach Unterzeichnung der Vereinbarung
The two Deans Prof. Claudio Bassetti and Prof. Yap Seng Chong (photo: Ramon Lehmann)

The formal highlight of the meeting was the signing of two agreements: a Memorandum of Understanding, which defines the overall framework for future collaborations, and an Agreement on Student Exchange at the master's level.

The Memorandum of Understanding covers the following four areas:

  1. Exchange of scientific, academic, and technical information of mutual interest
  2. Facilitation of student exchange and identification of opportunities to promote the exchange of research, teaching, and administrative personnel
  3. Cooperation and joint research in disciplines of common interest
  4. Organization of joint academic and scientific activities

The newly signed Agreement on Student Exchange foresees short-term stays of four to eight weeks for students at the master’s level during their elective year.

Prof. Stephan Windecker
Vice Dean Prof. Stephan Windecker during a joint workshop (photo: Ramon Lehmann)

A comprehensive three-day program

An intensive personal exchange took place on a scientific level. The visitors from Singapore visited several clinics and institutes and discussed the basis for future collaboration with their counterparts from our Faculty. The focus was on topics and specialties of strategic importance to both sides. These included sleep, stroke and translational neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, cancer research, preventive medicine, clinical research, and education.

As part of the discussions on biomedical technologies, the NUS delegation visited several key facilities and centers, including the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, the Liquid Biobank, the Experimental Surgery Facility, and the NeuroTec Loft and Clinical Anatomy Training and Research Unit CATR at sitem-insel.

Members of the Insel Gruppe Executive Board gave the guests a tour of the Anna-Seiler-Haus. They presented the innovative concept and structure of the new main building, strengthening patient-oriented care at the Bern University Hospital.

Die Besuchergruppe im neuen Anna-Seiler-Haus des Inselspitals
On the guided tour through the new Anna-Seiler-Haus at Inselspital (photo: Ramon Lehmann)

A solid foundation has been laid

At the end of the three-day program, the Dean, Prof. Yap Seng Chong, drew a positive conclusion on behalf of his delegation: “We are very impressed by what we have seen and heard during our visit to the medical campus of Bern.”

The second face-to-face meeting within a year has laid a good foundation for further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two medical schools. The next step will be to intensify the dialogue at the level of clinical departments, institutes, and research groups to learn from each other and jointly develop projects that create added value for both sides.

For further informationen

With the recently signed Student Exchange Agreement, students from Bern will be able to visit the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in Singapore for a short-term exchange for the first time in 2025. For further information on student exchange programs please contact the Office of Student Affairs (Sarah Habegger, sarah.habegger@unibe.ch). For more information on our cooperation with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine or on internationalization in general, please contact the Coordinator for National and International Relations of the Faculty of Medicine (Emilie Ballestraz, emilie.ballestraz@unibe.ch).

The Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Medicine

Further exchange opportunities

Is Singapore not your preferred choice for an exchange? The University of Bern also has exchange agreements with many other universities worldwide. Here, you will find an overview of all subject areas, and you can search specifically. Please be sure to check the exact availability for your field of study.

To the overview website

Illustration mit Weltkarte