ESAIC Exchange Programme

FAQ

• What about funding?

  The ESAIC Exchange Programmes are open to European residents and specialists who are interested and are successful in securing a scholarship, educational grant, or can afford their travel expenses, accommodation etc.

  Hospitals/universities are strongly encouraged to offer their residents/specialists paid permits to facilitate these exchanges with the understanding that these will be of benefit to the fellow but also to the Home institution. Some Host centres also provide relevant information on affiliated accommodation facilities.

  The ESAIC will allot a budget (to be defined on an annual basis) to support residents and specialists working in the European Lower and Upper-Middle income countries (as defined by the World Bank classification). Please note that the support offered is a symbolic amount which will not be sufficient to cover the travel, board, and living costs in the Host country. Eligible applicants can ‘flag’ the option of receiving this support at the time of their application.

• Medical Tourism: Training in another country?

  Particularly in the UK, trainees in anaesthesiology or intensive care often spend a year training in another country. This was known as the “BTA” which used to mean “Been to America” and now more often means “Been to Australia”. Well-chosen training posts were often formative, with advantage to the sending centre, the trainee, and the centre that received the trainee. However these “years out” could often be more of a tourist opportunity, and much of the learning takes place in the first 3 months. Since the UK, North America, and Oz (Australia) have approximately the same language, such transfers are easy.

• Benefits for home and abroad?

  For Europe, we propose a more concentrated and formative scheme.

  Selected residents and specialists will be put in contact with centres chosen to offer excellent training in specific topics. We believe that after the exchange a resident or specialist will absorb a great deal of new clinical experience, and return with new skills and enthusiasm, ready to pass the benefits on to other colleagues at home.

• Do I have to speak the local language of the centre I am applying to?

  This depends on the host centre. In the list of Host Centres, it is indicated which languages are required in order for you to carry out the exchange.