Pediatric Cardiology Erasmus IP From Sound to Ultrasound
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' RESPONSES

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE -EVALUATION OF THE IP

  • By using a 5-degree scale (1-5: 1=not at all, 5=very much) students validated the PCIP course overall with a mean value of 4.34 (median value=4).









  • The academic/learning outcomes were validated with 4.40 (median 4), and the judgment of personal outcomes with 4.29 (median 4).








  • Most participants validated the course as very helpful in their career: 4.46 (median 5), and less helpful regarding finding a job: 2.79 (median 3)

  • Their satisfaction with the academic activities and the pedagogical aspects of the IP was in all aspects (except number of hours taught) validated with a higher than 4 score (1-5: 1=not at all, 5=very much), in decreasing order as follows:
       
                                                                               Mean  Median
  • A.    The capabilities and expertise                    4.59     5
                   of the professors
  • B.    The equipment used                                  4.44     5
  • C.    The overall quality of teaching                     4.29     4
  • D.    The expected learning outcomes                4.26     4
  • E.    The activities besides the general               3.53     3.5
                  course
  • F.    The number of hours taught                        3.29     3

  • No serious problems were encountered during PCIP course participation, score 1.83 (median 1) (in a  scale 1-5: 1=not at all, 5=very much)

                                                            
                                                                          ACCOMMODATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
  • Accommodation of students and teachers was centrally managed, with selection of the very best offer among all accommodation facilities. A city hotel, with single rooms for teachers and 4-bed rooms for students, offering both accommodation and seminar rooms for teaching and practical exercise, breakfast and dinner within the available subsistence cost was selected. The satisfaction of students by their accommodation, received a good score: 3.43 (median 4).

                                                                                            COSTS
  • Practically, incoming students had minimal contribution to subsistence costs (accommodation, breakfast, dinner, and  a coffee break was also covered) and no cost for cultural activities (costs covered partially through organizatory budget). Incoming students had to contribute to their travel costs. Home students had no extra travel or subsistence costs, as the course took place in their own town. An average total cost of 105 Euro (median 100 Euro, range 15-200) was reported by  participant students.

                                                                                    RECOGNITION OF THE IP
  • The IP course received 6 ECTS credits by home Institution. Shortly after the PCIP course, the Faculty of Medicine University of Crete was provided a detailed list of the participants' final scores and 6 ECTS credits were acknowledged in participant students successfully passing accreditation exams. Hard copies of ECTS accreditation documents have been sent to each individual student soon after the course's end. However, at the end the PCIP course still participant students were not completely sure in their responses whether any accreditation was guaranteed by their own Institution.

                                                                           IDENTIFICATION OF IP AND MOTIVATION
  • Students were satisfied with the IP duration (mean: 4.44, median 4.5), and dates (mean 4.32, median 4.5)  (scale 1-5: 1=not at all, 5=very much).
  • "Regarding factors that motivated students to participate, academic factors and career plans followed by cultural-European experience predominated to their decision. Their responses in decreasing order were:
                                                        Mean    Median
  • A.    Academic                            4.63    5
  • B.    Career plans                        4.24    4
  • C     Cultural                               3.88    4
  • D.    European experience           3.85     4
  • E.    Practice of foreign language  3.85    4
  • F.    Friends living abroad             2.42    2

                                                                            INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
  • Students were informed from the PCIP from their home Institutions (82%), and host institution (14%), through other students (51%), previous participants (37%) or through internet (17%).

  • The support that students received from their home Institution was validated with 4.00 (median 4) and from the host Institution with 4.27 (median 5) (scale 1-5: 1=poor/negative, 5=excellent).

Disclaimer: The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the publisher and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information
PCIP 2013 Grant agreement reference number: 2012-1-GR1-ERA10-10626