Project
CARE4HEALTH: Building the Healthcare Worker of Tomorrow
Project sponsors
Abbreviation
Project type
Focus area
Implementation time
2.10.2023
-
1.4.2026
Unit
Financing program
Erasmus+ Key Action 2 2021-2027
Primary home page
UN Sustainable development goals
Project description
The project's purpose is to promote & strengthen the interconnectedness of higher education through cross-sectoral transnational cooperation & healthcare curriculum modernization.
The specific objectives are:
1. To strengthen the professional healthcare, digital and green competences of educators in higher education & trainers working with practicing professionals,
2. To improve students' employability & positive professional identity.
3. To make higher education more interconnected & inclusive.
The project will implement the following activities:
- intensive training and exchange of expertise for university professors, lecturers and postgraduate teaching assistants and trainers working with practicing professionals,
- development and piloting of an elective undergraduate course and digital component on Contemporary Challenges in Healthcare.
Partners are:
Fakulteta Za Zdravstvo Angele Boskin, Slovenia (coordinator)
Universita Degli Studi Di Udine, Italy
Universidad De Murcia, Spain
Univerza V Mariboru, Slovenia
Azienda sanitaria Friuli Occidentale, Italy
More information:
jaana.makela@jamk.fi (project coordination in Finland)
tiina.blek@jamk.fi (pedagogical issues)
Project results
The CARE4HEALTH project developed and piloted an international, research-informed and multidisciplinary educational package aimed at strengthening the competencies of healthcare students, educators and professionals in addressing contemporary healthcare challenges. The main project outputs included a new 3 ECTS undergraduate course, Contemporary Challenges in Healthcare, together with a comprehensive set of learning and teaching materials and a digital self-learning module. The course focused on evidence-based practice, digitalisation and cybersecurity, communication and collaboration skills, and environmental sustainability in healthcare.
The project enhanced the competencies of 15 educators and trainers and piloted the newly developed course with 40 healthcare students and the digital learning module with 25 healthcare professionals. The outcomes demonstrated increased awareness and knowledge in evidence-based practice, digital health, sustainability, cybersecurity, and communication skills. In addition, the project strengthened international cooperation between higher education institutions, healthcare organisations and other stakeholders, while establishing a new collaborative model for joint online teaching and learning.
The sustainability and dissemination of project results were supported through scientific publications, open educational resources and extensive stakeholder engagement activities. All major outputs were designed for open access and continued use beyond the project period, thereby supporting curriculum modernisation, lifelong learning and broader adoption of innovative educational practices in healthcare education across Europe.
3.9.2026 (Jaana Mäkelä)