Medsin-UK’s Long-Term Development Plan September 2012 – September 2015
Executive Summary: ‘Bridging the Gap between 2012 and 2015’ In September 2012, Medsin is poised as an organisation ready to expand exponentially in size, reach and impact. Over the last few years, there has been much work done to generate solid foundations upon which to build the network, and we have gained an unprecedented set of resources upon which to capitalise in the upcoming years. As we strive to reach our vision of “a fair and just world, in which equity in health is a reality for all” we are surrounded by many opportunities, but also face many challenges. Through the creation of this, our first long-term development plan, we hope to not only set out the direction which we aim to pursue, but also the strategy by which we hope to grasp these opportunities, and overcome these challenges over the next three years. In considering the strategy needed in order to achieve our ambitious three year objectives, a number of key themes arise. Firstly there is the need to not only expand, but also better integrate our diverse groups and areas of work. This encompasses not only the structural entities which make up our network (Branches, Activities and National Bodies), but also the methods by which we work towards our vision (Education, Advocacy and Action), and the levels at which we work (Local, National and Global). This process requires strong central coordination and communication, increased facilitation of our different groups of students, and better sharing of best practice. Furthermore we need to develop synergistic relationships with other global health stakeholders, particularly nationally and internationally. Secondly we recognise the need to develop sustainably and strategically, and consider developing and maintaining professional standards and strong governance systems essential in allowing us to fulfil our potential as a network. Lastly we recognise the need to continue to build the capacity of the network. As an organisation driven entirely by volunteers, we recognise that time constrictions and human resources are a key limiting factor in our development, and thus we aim to fund further sabbatical roles in order to drive other aspects of our development forward. We welcome the challenges that lie ahead, and are confident that through integrating our network through improved coordination and communication, improving professionalism and sustainability, and continuing to build our capacity, we can realise our mission, “to create a network of students empowered to affect tangible social and political change in health on a local, national and global level through education, advocacy and community ledaction”. Over the next three years, our objectives are: 1. To become leaders in the comprehensive provision, monitoring and improvement of global health education and training. We aim to encourage and support engagement in global health opportunities, including research, and to ground all of our service provision and ongoing work in a firm evidence-base. 2. To become a network fully equipped with the relevant knowledge, skills and human resources to carry out strategic, sustainable and effective campaigns with tangible outcomes; and to be engaged by national and international policy makers and forums as the leading student voice on global health issues. 3. To improve health and reduce health inequities through responsible and sustainable community-led action in communities both within the UK and overseas. 4. To become a professionally and sustainably governed student-led organisation, supported by appropriate experienced individuals and partner organisations. We aim to become a large, coordinated and multidisciplinary network, able to engage all relevant stakeholders through an effective and innovative communication strategy.
Section 1: Education, Research and Training We aspire to become leaders in the comprehensive provision, monitoring and improvement of global health education and skills-based training. We aim to encourage and support engagement in global health opportunities, including research, and to ground all of our service provision and ongoing work in a firm evidence-base. 1.1 Provision of Education and Training 1.1.1 We will provide education on topics of global health and training in skills required to tackle health inequities, through expert students and engagement of external trainers, educators and facilitators, to: Students at every medical school in the UK, and a growing number of other universities
Students at local primary and secondary schools and colleges Local communities, through engagement with local societies, organisations and events 1.1.2
This education and training will consist of both skills and knowledge-based components ranging from basic to advanced levels and will be delivered through: Local, regional, national and international events Resources (including virtual resources such as webinars) Externally-reviewed and accredited educational and training courses National awards and competitions to encourage engagement and celebrate excellence Comprehensive global health education and training prior to, during and after, bilateral professional exchanges between medical students in the UK and overseas
1.2 Monitoring and Improving Education and Training 1.2.1 We will monitor and evaluate provision of global health knowledge and relevant skills within: Undergraduate and post-graduate medical courses including electives, SSMs, core content of curricula Allied healthcare professional courses Other undergraduate and postgraduate courses Primary & secondary school level teaching 1.2.2
We will continually improve provision of global health education and training by: Monitoring both quantity and quality of provision in the areas described above Collating examples of best practice and sharing these with relevant stakeholders Engaging with other stakeholders to provide contemporary curricular guidelines Collaborating with educational and training providers to improve their provision
1.3 Encouraging Engagement in Global Health Opportunities and Research 1.3.1 We will encourage engagement in a range of global health opportunities including: Educational courses and training, encompassing undergraduate, post-graduate, Masters, and short, parttime and distance-learning courses Elective, internship and volunteering opportunities where global health is a learning outcome Global health awards, competitions and prizes Opportunities to integrate global health into a career pathway Research into Medsin’s organisational impact, including monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects Research which will further Medsin’s vision and mission 1.3.2
We will encourage and support engagement in these opportunities through: Provision of a database collating these opportunities and matching students to potential careers advisors, research supervisors and skilled mentors Individual trained student advisors who can offer guidance and support Guidelines recommending how and when to best engage in these opportunities Producing an annual journal to communicate successes in global health research
Section 2: Policy engagement, Advocacy and Campaigning We aspire to become a network fully equipped with the relevant knowledge, skills and human resources to carry out strategic, sustainable and effective campaigns with tangible outcomes; and to be engaged by national and international policy makers and forums as the leading student voice on global health issues. 2.1 Proactive Advocacy We will maintain a broad global health based approach to advocacy, establishing relevant topic-specific National Working Groups to coordinate our activities, and facilitating proactive advocacy at every level and within every component of our network’s work. We will develop sustainable, focused, and long-term campaigns in a wide range of issues within global health, and engaging in cross-cutting issues including: Priority Area 1; Priority Area 2; Priority Area 3; Priority Area 4 2.2 Reactive Advocacy We will be poised to respond effectively to emerging issues in global health injustice through: An equipped and coordinated advocacy network Continual monitoring of ongoing policy and decision-making processes in the field of global health
Comprehensive documentation, including policy statements, setting out Medsin’s position as a network 2.3 Advocacy Tools and Techniques We will train our members in a range of advocacy techniques which we will utilise across our campaigns, including: Grass-roots advocacy and mobilisation of student populations and wider society Face-to-face negotiation and engagement with policy makers and stake-holders Engaging with the press and media
Section 3: Community-led Support and Activities We aspire to improve health and reduce health inequities through responsible, sustainable, community-led action in communities both within the UK and overseas. 3.1 UK- Focused Support 3.1.1 We will work with disadvantaged and vulnerable populations including: Individuals from deprived areas, and those without a permanent dwelling Individuals from different cultural, social, ethnic or religious backgrounds, including refugees and migrants Individuals with physical or mental disabilities, and those who have suffered, or are at risk of abuse or neglect Individuals at the extremes of life; children & young people and the elderly 3.1.2
We will aim to improve health and reduce health inequities in these individuals and communitiesthrough sustainable projects which perform: health promotion and educational activities to empower the individual advocacy for individuals and utilising these examples to provide case studies for other work direct service provision where necessary and appropriate
3.2 Internationally- Focused Support 3.2.1. We will consider opportunities for students to engage in overseas volunteering including: Opportunities within the medical course, such as electives and exchanges Volunteering and internship opportunities, including “gap years� 3.2.2
We will continually explore, review and improve the mechanisms through which students can engage with and support overseas development programmes by: Monitoring both quantity and quality of volunteering programmes overseas Collating examples of best practice and sharing these with relevant stakeholders Collaborating with providers to improve their programmes overseas Engaging with other stakeholders to provide guidelines in student engagement overseas Utilising these guidelines to raise awareness of potential risks and harms involved in overseas action Supporting other providers of overseas development programmes, including through the support and provision of pre and post -departure training and education
Section 4: Developing and Maintaining the Network We aspire to become a professionally and sustainably governed student-led organisation, supported by appropriate experienced individuals and partner organisations. We aim to become a large, coordinated and multidisciplinary network, able to engage all relevant stakeholders through an effective and innovative communication strategy. 4.1 Governance and Professionalism 4.1.1 Medsin will maintain a high level of governance and professionalism through: Sustainable and sufficient financing through establishment of long-term renewable funding including ethically-sourced commercial sponsorship, charitable/grant support, individual donations and social enterprise ventures Responsible and transparent financial management and governance Regular, widely-distributed reporting and accountability mechanisms Up-to-date governing documentation in line with legal regulations and best practice guidelines Effective monitoring and evaluation of all core areas of work
Organisational office space which is well-located and situated near to other global health organisations, with sufficient working space for all staff and secure storage for all Medsin resources and merchandise Bodies of individuals equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge to govern Medsin 4.1.2 Medsin will maintain an organisation structure that facilitates strong governance and development, including: A board of trustees, responsible for oversight of the charity’s governance, sustainability and mentorship Advisory and mentorship support structures for all of the charity’s key individuals and areas of work High profile experts in global health and related fields to act as Patrons of Medsin, promoting our activities Funded sabbatical national positions comprising: a full time National “Intern” and 2 “Vice-Interns” who will each work 3 days per week for Medsin and 2 days per week for relevant partner organisations A salaried, full time non-student employee, whose contract would be 2-3 years long, and whose remit would cover much of Medsin’s sustainable governance and administration as well as external representation and policy work where appropriate A national body of full-time students responsible for coordinating and facilitating the network’s activities, led by the Sabbatical roles, and comprising a National Committee and a number of National Working Groups Long-term relationships with supporting partner externals & ethical commercial sponsors 4.2 Communications and Corporate Identity 4.2.1 Medsin’s communication strategy and corporate identity will effectively: Widen access and participation from students of all disciplines interested in global health Convey Medsin’s work and professional ethos to external partner and potential funding organisations Ensure the organisation is identifiable and accessible as a key stakeholder in all global health issues Develop a well-connected, well-informed network through ensuring good integration across all our work 4.2.2
This will be developed through developing up-to-date, professional, and comprehensive communications: A website, acting as the main platform for Medsin’s resources, databases, internal communication and news Effective utilisation of both conventional communication tools and new/social media Well-archived and high-quality resources, accessible to all our members through our website A diverse range of branded Medsin merchandise A quarterly magazine, and publicity materials, advertising and showcasing our work for all of our stakeholders
4.3 Developing the Network 4.3.1 Medsin will establish itself as a large, coordinated, multi-disciplinary, engaged and empowered network through: Increasing a sense of belonging and ownership of the network Supporting each individual and enabling them to fulfil their potential in global health by equipping them with the skills to combat global health inequities throughout their future careers Bringing together students from a range of perspectives, courses, and backgrounds Increasing the number and quality of our branches through actively establishing groups in more nonmedical and postgraduate universities Increasing the number and quality of our branches, activities, and National Working Groups 4.3.2
This network will be continually developed and expanded through: Groups of individuals working together, focused around location, an area of global health, or a specific project (namely Branches, Activities and National Working Groups), appropriately supported by the national team through provision of guidance, resources and training A national database of members, allowing individuals to access personalised resources, and allowing the national committee to track individual’s development, skills and interests within the network An engaged and coordinated body of alumni, who share skills with Medsin’s members, and who derive mutual benefit from being fully integrated into Medsin’s activities Mentorship, welfare and personal support for members Active engagement with students from a range of courses, and multi-disciplinary events and activities