ENSISMed project – equity, non-discrimination and social inclusion to improve academic performance

Through this project, which started in 2021, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu” of Cluj-Napoca aimed to increase social equity, with a view to social inclusion, increase access to higher education and correlate the educational offer with the current needs of the labour market, by offering, including career counselling and guidance sessions.

The main aim of the project was, on the one hand, to promote the educational offer of UMF “Iuliu Hațieganu” among students from disadvantaged communities and to support them to become students of our university. On the other hand, the project also aimed to support current students at risk by offering preparatory courses for the entrance exam, skills training, as well as mock job interviews and financial support.

Within ENSISMed several activities were carried out to promote the educational offer of UMF “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca, as well as visits to several schools. During the four visits, information and promotional materials were distributed to the students with the specialisations and study programmes for which they can opt at the entrance exam (Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Dental Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, General Medical Assistance, Radiology and Imaging, Balneo-physiokinetic Therapy and Recovery).

The project also produced videos presenting the university with a description of the whole admission process, the application procedure and information about the examination.

Also in the framework of this project, four online training courses were recorded and run, including the exam subjects and were made available to people interested in the entrance exam at UMF “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca.

The project also included the creation of a database of students at risk of early university abandonment, in order to facilitate communication and support to these people.

For 90 students at risk of dropping out of university and with a difficult material situation, 4 training sessions were planned and carried out on the following topics: problem solving, assertive communication, emotional intelligence, creativity and critical thinking, time, conflict and stress management, taking responsibility and decision making.

50 at-risk young people from Pharmacy, General Nursing, Balneo-Physiokinetic Therapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Dental Technician also took part in mock job interviews. In addition, 100 students from our university, with low income and at risk of dropping out of school, received financial support of 800 lei each.

Finally, a guide on social equity and non-discrimination was also produced. The objectives and results of the project were 100% achieved.

As for the management of the project, the funds came from the Educational Development Fund for 2021 and from own contribution.