tunisia center university of health private education

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On this November morning, the corridors of the private Central School of Medical and Health Sciences in Tunis are full of students. Central University, founded in 2001, is the country’s largest multidisciplinary private university (health, business, law, engineering, architecture and design, journalism and communication, information technology and telecommunications). It also houses an executive training center and has over 5,000 students from nearly twenty countries. The facility also houses an impressive Honoris Medical Simulation Center (MSC) equipped with the latest technologies in Health-Tech.

In total, the health school offers approximately ten nursing training courses (medical imaging-radiotherapy, speech therapy, breastfeeding, anesthesia, intensive care, physiotherapy, optics, midwifery, prosthodontics, nutrition and instrumentation) and physics, and initially two masters . Nursing adapted to Chinese medicine in partnership with Hangzhou Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine. That day, a Chinese delegation had just visited Tunisia to discuss a dual graduate project owned by the Honoris United Universities group.

Honoris United Universities, a pan-African network of private universities established by the British investment fund Actis in 2017 and investing $275 million in this project, currently has 71,000 students on 70 campuses in ten countries. Its network includes about fifteen institutions, and its students benefit from cooperation and exchange programs with more than 190 European, American and Asian universities. To date, Honoris institutes offer more than 420 programs across all disciplines.

A state-of-the-art laboratory for hyperrealistic training

“Welcome to Gattaca,” a medical space at the Central Health School in Tunis, hosts animated mannequins from the sci-fi movie that mimic the reactions of patients. ” This helps the students to practice in an optimized environment. This experience is in line with our motto: “It’s never the first time for a patient!” Mamoun Ben Cheikh, MD (anesthesia and resuscitation) and facilitator at the Honoris Medical Simulation Center (MSC) in Tunis explains. To date, there are two medical simulation centers on the continent accredited by the International Society for Healthcare Simulation (in Cape Town, South Africa and in Tunisia).

A modern control room is adjacent to the operating room, and scenarios are offered to students practicing on bed mannequins surrounded by first aid equipment (defibrillator, infusion, etc.). Incredibly realistic, high quality patient simulators can be computer controlled. They are able to breathe, speak or respond to stimuli. Parts are interchangeable. At the end of practical tests, student evaluations are conducted in modern and clean briefing rooms under blue hospital light. “ In Tunisia, we really pay special attention to pedagogy. In addition, teachers are also evaluated by students. “, he specifies.

Crossing the corridors, a doctor stands in front of a new operating room and bends over Resusci Anne (named after a stranger from the Seine who serves as a model for female mannequins in operating rooms). Her belly slowly rises and the model lets out low moans.

” MSC welcomes visitors from all over Africa: from Benin, but also from Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger (…) We want to teach skills that can also be used in sub-Saharan Africa. “says Wafa Troudi, director of the Central Health School.

Lecturio connects students with experts in global medicine

In addition to MSC, Honoris Group students now benefit from a new learning platform. “ The Covid-19 pandemic has allowed online learning to accelerate with innovative and more proactive approaches for the student. » explains Ilhem Mestiri, CEO of UPSAT (Faculty of Sciences and Health in Sousse, Tunis and Sfax), which is also a member of the Honoris network. Since 2008, the German EdTech Lecturio has developed a training platform for health professions developed by prestigious partners from Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University or especially University College London.

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Lecturio offers multiple courses and a bank of nearly 10,000 videos as well as clinical examples. Currently, more than half a million students and educators in 175 countries use the platform. Since last September, 2000 students and 71 teachers of Central Health School and UPSAT schools can use it.

” The advantage of this platform is adaptive learning, based on artificial intelligence and algorithms that determine each student’s strengths and weaknesses, with appropriate tests (quizzes and targeted feedback, editor’s note) to determine a tailor-made program. Thanks to Lecturio, we have found that acquiring skills is more efficient and faster Ilham Mestiri says.

Tunisia, new provider the world of medical skills?

The Central Health School in Tunis also provides compulsory education in English, French and German. ” Languages ​​are very important in CV. Learning German leads to employment in Germany The director of Ecole Centrale explains. Their three-year study and B2 level language certificate in German, along with further study, allows students to have their diploma recognized in Germany where they join public or private medical institutions.

” Staffing needs in Germany are such that GIZ prepares all promotions. They are looking for 300,000 nurses by 2025. However, Germany is not the only place where our employment service works. ”, explains Vafa Troudi. ” Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but also Canada and the United Kingdom All are popular destinations for Tunisian students, he says. “ Education in Tunisia has a great value, it is recognized beyond the borders “, Abderrazak Zouari, advisor to the Central University group management.

This international appeal for Tunisian medical workers is not without effect at the national level, as the Tunisian General Labor Union stated, which in 2018 warned that the exodus of doctors numbered in the hundreds each year.

UPSAT, the new talent catalyst

Salim, 23, who came from Niger to study for the UPSAT in Tunisia, is assessed alone in front of his teacher in a large classroom. “JI live in Niamey and I come from a family of doctors. I chose Tunisia because of the quality of learning and the environment “says the student.

In the corridors, 19-year-old Franco-Tunisian Ryan talks to the director of the institution. He came to pursue his studies at UPSAT because “ science and sports enthusiast chose the physiotherapy course. ” I knew that the teaching here was very solid, so I had no problem choosing this school. “, he explains.

Recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Health, UPSAT (private faculty of health sciences) is the pioneer of medical education in Tunisia, along with the Central University. Founded in 2001, UPSAT, with four campuses located in Sousse, Tunis and Sfax, joined the Honoris group in 2018.

About 2,000 students (Bac+3 to Bac+5) study nursing, anesthesia-resuscitation and medical imaging there. At the same time, Masters in Health is available for physiotherapists. Since its inception, the network has trained more than 3,000 healthcare professionals.

” We have partnered with two platforms: Le Wagon and Crossknowledge to create a unique training course, Honors 21st Century Skills Certificate, that will enable learners to acquire soft skills and programming skills. », notes Ilhem Mestir to show the heterogeneity of the knowledge provided in UPSAT.

The Tunisian branch was established in 2005, not far from the Honoris Medical Simulation Center and the main hospitals in the city, where numerous contracts were signed.
” Our students are supervised by medical service leaders. We employ temporary teachers who are hospital-university students and have established cooperative relationships with all Tunisian hospitals that host our clinical and practical training. “, the general director of UPSAT defines.

The cost of the training offered is up to 30,000 dinars (about 10,000 euros for three years) for physiotherapists. ” The average cost of a year of secondary medical education is about 8,000 Tunisian dinars per year. Access to education is synonymous with social mobility in Tunisia, an investment Tunisians are willing to make. “says Amal Baccar, director of UPSAT Tunisia.