An Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), hosted by RCSI and international partners is preparing future healthcare professionals to deliver better patient care in community settings. Through a student-led, interprofessional model of learning, participants gain the skills, confidence and global perspective needed to address complex health challenges.
Led by Dr Muirne Spooner, Senior Lecturer at the RCSI School of Medicine, in collaboration with Dr Mara Pereira Guerreiro from Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, this programme introduces interprofessional, student-led, community-engaged learning.
Students from RCSI’s Pharmacy, Graduate Entry Medicine, and Direct Entry Medicine programmes worked alongside their peers from across Europe, mirroring the diverse, team-based nature of contemporary clinical environments.
The clinic was based around multicultural, interprofessional, student led activities which involved planning, clarifying scope of practice, budgeting and funding as well as governance, ethical considerations and public engagement strategies.
The result was an intensive learning experience for these international teams of students practicing patient-centred communication and care through role-play simulations, deepening their understanding of the broader social factors that influence health.
Flipped classrooms, simulation, reflective practice and peer feedback all form part of the programme’s design – methods that enrich learning and strengthen interprofessional collaboration and mutual respect. Students are not only trained to be clinically proficient, but also to be reflective, responsive and inclusive practitioners.
A culture of partnership
A defining feature of the BIP is its strong culture of student partnership. Faculty members including Dr Bridget Murray from the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery and Katja Braam and Leonie te Loo from Inholland University of Applied Sciences worked closely with student partners Atharv Reddy Katam and Rhieya Rahul, supported by the RCSI Student Engagement and Partnership programme.
This co-facilitation model places students at the centre of their own learning, building leadership, confidence and agency.
The international element added further value as students engaged with different healthcare systems, cultural contexts and teaching styles. Five RCSI students travelled to countries including Portugal and the Netherlands to participate in the programme alongside peers from across Europe, Asia, the US and Canada.
Effective collaboration
“Taking part in the BIP in Lisbon was the perfect blend of learning, collaboration, energy and new ideas,” said Katie Howe, an RCSI Pharmacy student.
“The mix of disciplines and cultures gave me a much clearer understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals, and how we can collaborate effectively. I also gained valuable insight into how pharmacy practice differs internationally – from legal frameworks to prescribing rights and medication access – which I found particularly interesting.”
This Erasmus+ BIP exemplifies the future of healthcare education – collaborative, inclusive, practice-based and globally connected.
By engaging with communities and learning alongside peers from across Europe, students are not only better prepared for clinical roles but also inspired to become compassionate leaders and advocates for equitable, person-centred care.
RCSI is committed to achieving a better and more sustainable future through the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
