Several years of monitoring by the Employment Service shows a real imbalance of labour demand and supply in the medical field. For example, for the last three years, there have been more job vacancies for nursing professionals than registered job seekers. A quarter of healthcare employers (24.3%) identified the insufficient number of trained specialists as the main reason for this imbalance, revealed the survey of employers.

Representatives of the Faculty of Medicine of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) say that prospective study programmes await those who choose to study at this faculty, as well as modern laboratories, simulation classes, professional lecturers, an effective on-site mentoring internship system, opportunities to participate in various projects and other activities.

Employers are already waiting for this new study programme’s graduates

The close cooperation of the Faculty of Medicine with social partners helps to ensure that the faculty carries out relevant study programmes that meet the needs of today’s market. Head of the Faculty of Medicine for Practical Training Dr Donatas Gužauskas notes that the Emergency Medical Aid study programme was created after talking with social partners.

It is especially important for the students of this study programme not only to have a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge but also to be able to apply the acquired knowledge in practice, therefore Emergency Medical Aid studies are organised by integrating theoretical knowledge into various clinical situations, which are carried out in practical training rooms and simulation classes. During practical sessions, students learn to provide emergency medical aid to patients of all age groups, cultures, and special needs independently and in teams, to manage acute and emergencies at the scene, using available human and material resources.

‘The practical preparation of students is extremely important for this speciality, so at least 50 per cent of studies consist of professional practice. Emergency Medical Aid graduates can not only work according to the acquired education but also choose postgraduate studies at the university or continue their studies in the Kauno kolegija HEI’s General Practice Nursing study programme to obtain the qualification of a general practice nurse,’ shares Dr D. Gužauskas.

Akvilė Grigaliūnaitė, a student of Emergency Medical Aid, is happy that she gets to know professional lecturers during her studies.

‘During these studies, it is really important to acquire theoretical knowledge and be able to apply it. However, it is no less important to be empathetic, to be able to communicate with people, not to be afraid to touch them and to know as many languages ​​as possible. During these studies, I became convinced that medicine, communicating with people and helping them is my vocation. I invite those who want to become paramedics to consider studying at Kauno kolegija HEI. Here you will acquire a promising speciality, you will have a lot of practical classes and you will learn what it means to learn from excellent lecturers,’ shares A. Grigaliūnaitė.

These specialists are sought-after both in the regions and in the larger cities

As the population ages, early radiological diagnostics becomes more and more important – both public and private personal care institutions try to constantly update the available radiological equipment, therefore the need for radiological technologists who can work with this equipment is growing.

‘Radiology technologists are a very promising speciality. Employers are looking for these specialists not only in the periphery but also in Kaunas itself, especially private personal health care institutions,’ says Ingrida Viliušienė, Head of the Department of Medical Technologies and Dietetics of the Faculty of Medicine.

The purpose of the Radiology study programme is to prepare radiology technologists capable of performing radiological procedures and evaluating diagnostic images and their quality. Also, to cooperate in a multi-profile team, improve your qualifications and solve both scientific and practical problems.

‘Students of the Radiology study programme have the opportunity to go abroad for part of their studies or internship. Most of the time, they choose Finland, Portugal, Ireland, Turkey, Estonia, Latvia,’ says I. Viliušienė.

It is predicted that the demand for dietitians will grow even more

Due to its relevance, the Dietetics study programme is among the choices of frequent applicants. I. Viliušienė notes that the need for dietitians can be linked to people’s interest in a healthy lifestyle, one of the parts of which is a healthy diet.

‘Actually, there are more and more students who have already obtained a speciality but want to study Dietetics because they are interested in this field or, for example, they work in sports clubs and want to make individual nutrition plans for people who do sports. It’s no secret that even doctors choose these studies because this field is interesting to them,’ says I. Viliušienė.

During the internship students are taken care of by mentors

Close cooperation with social partners made it possible to create an effective mentoring system – students are accompanied, advised and monitored by mentors during their internship. For the development of students’ practical skills, the faculty prepares about 30 new practice mentors every year. The quality of interns is also monitored by organising visits to internship locations. This makes it possible to get to know better the organisations that are hosting students and to strengthen cooperation while looking for the best solutions for developing students’ practical skills.

Additional conditions for the development of students’ theoretical and practical knowledge are created by volunteer activities actively carried out by the faculty, and active participation in national and international projects. As a result, learning activities often go beyond conventional educational environments.

‘Long-standing traditions, experience, and leadership in rankings oblige us to achieve the highest goals and ensure the quality of studies. The Faculty of Medicine employs lecturers with extensive work experience who pass on their knowledge and skills to our students,’ says Julius Dovydaitis, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

The Faculty of Medicine of the Kauno kolegija HEI is the former Kaunas Medical School, which started its activities in 1920 with courses for midwives and nurses organised by professor obstetrician-gynaecologist Pranas Mažylis. Long-term and historically significant experience marks the rapid development and progress of the institution. During its 103 years of operation, the faculty expanded, and equipped modern educational environments, laboratories, and practical training bases. Today, the Faculty of Medicine can offer as many as 13 study programmes. The study programmes implemented in this faculty are among the best studies offered in Lithuanian higher education institutions for the training of health care specialists. This is shown by annual rankings in which study programmes conducted by the faculty occupy leading positions.