Outgoing Faculty Mobility and Internationalisation in Medical Education: Perceptions of an Ecuador–Bolivia Cooperation Experience
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/ijnhs.v4i4.5Keywords:
Faculty Mobility, Internationalisation, Medical Education, International Cooperation, Curriculum, Interinstitutional ResearchAbstract
Introduction: Outgoing faculty mobility is a relevant strategy for internationalising higher education, particularly in health sciences programmes, where academic exchange enables the comparison of educational practices and strengthens interinstitutional networks. Objective: To analyse the perception of a Medicine lecturer from Universidad San Gregorio de Portoviejo regarding an outgoing academic mobility experience at Universidad Privada Domingo Savio, Bolivia, and assess its contribution to institutional internationalisation. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive case study was conducted. Data came from a semi-structured interview organised around five areas and a documentary review of the activity schedule. Reflexive thematic coding was applied. Results: Five categories emerged: academic and intercultural motivation; institutional management of mobility; integration into the host context; bidirectional transfer of academic practices; and development of research networks. Activities included lectures, theoretical-practical classes, research workshops, advice on clinical simulation and OSCEs, meetings, cultural activities and collaborative project planning. Programme support, host-university receptiveness and academic reciprocity were strengths. Central administrative procedures required improvement to avoid duplicated documentation and logistical errors. Conclusions: The experience fostered curriculum internationalisation, exchange of good practices and interinstitutional projects, linking academic cooperation, global health and intercultural medical education through planned, assessable and sustainable management
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