Internationalization

New Partnership with the National University of Singapore

The Faculty of Medicine has established a strategic partnership for collaborations in research and education with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine of the National University of Singapore, one of the leading medical schools in Asia.

It is a strategic goal of the Faculty of Medicine to further expand its international orientation through partnerships with selected medical schools. International networking not only increases the visibility and reputation of our Faculty, but also strengthens its excellence in research, teaching, and training.

Founded in 1905, the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is one of the leading medical schools in the Asia-Pacific region. It is ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the world.

More collaboration and exchange

Last year, the first meeting at the faculty management level took place in Singapore. The Dean, Prof. Claudio Bassetti, and the Vice Dean for Internationalization, Prof. Stephan Windecker, participated. The second meeting has now taken place, this time in Bern. Led by the Dean of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Prof. Yap Seng Chong, a delegation of 12 people visited Bern from January 29 to 31, 2024, and gained first-hand insights into our medical campus.

The formal highlight of the meeting was the signing of two agreements: a Memorandum of Understanding, which defines the overall framework for future collaborations, and an Agreement on Student Exchange at the master's level.

The Memorandum of Understanding covers the following four areas:

1. Exchange of scientific, academic, and technical information of mutual interest
2. Facilitation of student exchange and identification of opportunities to promote the exchange of research, teaching, and administrative personnel
3. Cooperation and joint research in disciplines of common interest
4. Organization of joint academic and scientific activities

The newly signed Agreement on Student Exchange foresees short-term stays of four to eight weeks for students at the master’s level during their elective year.

A comprehensive three-day program

An intensive personal exchange took place on a scientific level. The visitors from Singapore visited several clinics and institutes and discussed the basis for future collaboration with their counterparts from our Faculty. The focus was on topics and specialties of strategic importance to both sides. These included sleep, stroke and translational neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, cancer research, preventive medicine, clinical research, and education.

As part of the discussions on biomedical technologies, the NUS delegation visited several key facilities and centers, including the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, the Liquid Biobank, the Experimental Surgery Facility, and the NeuroTec Loft and Clinical Anatomy Training and Research Unit CATR at sitem-insel.

Members of the Insel Gruppe Executive Board gave the guests a tour of the Anna-Seiler-Haus. They presented the innovative concept and structure of the new main building, strengthening patient-oriented care at the Bern University Hospital.

A solid foundation has been laid

At the end of the three-day program, the Dean, Prof. Yap Seng Chong, drew a positive conclusion on behalf of his delegation: “We are very impressed by what we have seen and heard during our visit to the medical campus of Bern.”

The second face-to-face meeting within a year has laid a good foundation for further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two medical schools. The next step will be to intensify the dialogue at the level of clinical departments, institutes, and research groups to learn from each other and jointly develop projects that create added value for both sides.