International training placements, also known as student electives, are part of every medical students’ education around the world.
In Palestine, senior medical students at all 4 universities have the opportunity to do placements at hospitals and units other than those they have trained in. These electives provide a wonderful opportunity for the students to witness and learn from different systems and broaden their outlook.
This experience can be life changing, which is why FQMS encourages students to go abroad by supporting such elective placements. Support per student depends on the destination, however, it is not meant to cover the whole cost.
In 2015, we partnered with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and helped fund 127 students electives in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Malaysia. The partnership has continued in 2016 with only 77 students able to go on their placements due to travel restrictions.
In 2019, we decided to revamp the international training placements programme by reducing the number of students getting funding, but increasing the amount that each student would get.
Due to covid-19 and travel restrictions that have developed as a result, we have decided to move the 2020 funding for International Training Placements to the Student Financial Aid fund. As our students cannot travel at the moment, we feel this money can help our students and their families during this difficult time.
In 2023, the elective programme was resumed, and five students were supported, of whom two went to the United Kingdom and three went to Turkey.
