Three Campus master’s programmes celebrate first graduating class

EIT-Labelled degree programmes hand out diplomas at EIT House in Brussels

The first graduating class of three EIT Health master’s degree programmes received their diplomas in a 9 November 2018 ceremony in the EIT House in Brussels, in what one participant called “a great moment of celebration, empowerment and sharing of ideas”.

Some 36 students graduated from the three programmes involved in the joint celebration: the Master in Innovation in Healthcare (IHC), the International Master Programme in Innovative Medicine (IMIM) and the Master of Technological Innovation in Health (MTIH). The courses were developed by EIT Health and then earned the prestigious EIT Label, which recognises innovative pedagogies, a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and business creation, and other elements aligning with EIT values.

In her introductory speech at the graduation ceremony, Mathea Fammels, Head of EIT Liaison Office in Brussels, noted that EIT-Labelled degree programmes have proven to have an excellent record in terms of employment and career opportunities. She said the students, who trained at more than ten European universities and were from more than ten different nationalities, are now united in that they share a sense of belonging to the EIT family.

Education that crosses borders

Another element shared by all EIT-Labelled programmes is international mobility. During her address, Dr. Ursula Mühle, EIT Health Director of Education, recalled how 20 years ago international exchanges were very scarce and it was difficult to validate degrees from one country to another.

Xufei Chen, MTiH graduate from Sorbonne University, said in her speech that the programme provided international mobility by offering all of the students an academic experience in another country and university – but also by providing an opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams and meet colleagues from different backgrounds.

The architecture of these degrees in healthcare innovation was co-designed, in accordance with EIT Campus learning objectives, by Prof. Véronique Perdereau, Vice-President at Sorbonne University and Academic Lead of EIT Health Degree Programmes, for the EIT Health Degree Programmes Activity Line. The courses offer a unique combination of hard and soft skills that are the key to boosting innovation in European health systems, as the EC Policy Officer Dirk van den Steen noted in his speech.

Ceremony was a first

This first graduating class from EIT Health master’s programmes were admitted in 2016. The graduation ceremony was held at the EIT House, a centre that is used to give EIT Knowledge and Information Communities, such as EIT Health, a base of operations in Brussels. Plans are already being discussed to make the graduation ceremony at the EIT House a tradition.

Each individual programme was presented by its coordinator and by a student representative. Students received their EIT Health certificate from Campus head Dr. Mühle, while their degree coordinators awarded them the graduation scarves. This symbolic moment was followed by a shared drink and the World Café event prepared by the EIT Health Alumni.

Find out more about EIT Health Degree Programmes here.