Exchange report - incoming teachers
Home university: Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences
Study programme: Physiotherapy
Exchange programme: Linnaeus-Palme
Semester: Spring semester 2015/2016
Duration: 21
Name: Shrikant Sunil Sant
Email address: shrikantsant@outlook.com

Accommendation

We were staying at Jagargatan 20 during our Sweden visit. The apartment was precious and clean. We were satisfied by the arrangements done by Catharina Nordenstam mam and Anna Dahlerus. It was very homely experience. All required utensils were available in kitchen which solved our issue of cooking. We were very pleased to see that, our SL Travel Card and all the information brochures were kept ready at our apartment which enabled us to move around the same day of arrival. Also, Anna Dahlerus provided us IKA Debit card very next day. Hence, our stay in Sweden went smooth and happy.

Language and Culture

The language of teaching in Sweden  is Swedish which somewhat resists international participants from interacting. Though, students interacted with us in english. I found that students are very interactive and faced no problems in communicating in english. Swedish language is easy to read though, pronunciations are bit difficult. For example in practical session of Biomechanics we attended a demonstration of ankle injury in Swedish language, though we did not understand exactly what the demonstrator explained we tried to assume the situation by observing. 

Leisure time

We were fortunate enough to attend 70th Birthday of his majesty King of Sweden. We could observe urban, suburban and rural lifestyle of Swedish people as staff of Karolinska Institute invited us at their home with very warm welcome. Kristina Kindblom helped us a lot for understanding local culture and traditions. Also, we visited museums around stockholm like, Vasa Museum, Skansen Museum and Zoo, Ericsson Globe and Skyview. We could visit Mariehamn during our visit o a weekend.

Miscellaneous

Overall it was very nice experience. We learned a lot about Physiotherapy education and Swedish culture. 

Other activities

We visited number of health settings during our stay. Spinalis Spinal cord injury rehabilitation centre, Jacobsergs AVC center, Old Age Home and  Quinna to Quinna centre are to be mentioned specially. Our participation in CHBR course helped us to make new contacts in global health perspectives. I think this opportunity should be continued for further research development which helps in creating global health awareness and also to train skilled health professionals worldwide.

Preparation

We received the opportunity to visit Karolinska Institutet in Sweden during April - May 2016. Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences-DU and Karolinska Institute run this Teacher Exchange program under Linnaeus-Palme Exchange Scholarship. We were guided by our Principal sir, and International Coordinator helped us for making this visit more comfortable and productive. Also, previous participants in exchange program and our senior staff guided us for our stay in Sweden.
International Coordinator of Karolinska Institute, Anna Dahlerus provided us with important and useful information time- to- time, she took care of all required details which relieved our stress completely, being our first International journey. Also, I could specially mention the name of Kristina Kindblom mam, who supported us and guided us frequently before-during and also after our stay in Sweden.

Reflections

We did learned a lot from this exchange program. Modern tools for teaching were very effective to attract and explain students about very specific topics. This program gave us new insight about teaching and evaluation methods. Student centered teaching is effective way for better understanding of students. Evaluation and Feedback system in Karolinska Institute was very good and interesting. 
Though personally in my opinion very few hours of interactions between student and teacher during regular academics is somehow affects student's adherence to subject and learning.  

Teaching

We participated in teaching sessions and practical sessions during visit to Karolinska Institute, Huddinge at Physiotherapy Department. All the teachers and staff of the institute were friendly and interactive. The evaluation methods at KI were interesting and innovative. The student-teacher relationship at Karolinska was much independent and free. Students are learning more of theoretical knowledge compared to practical aspects of Physiotherapy. Though, in PIMS-DU we are implementing new methods of evaluation like OSCE-OSPE, in Karolinska Institute traditional evaluation methods are preferred. Modern facilities like very fast Wi-Fi connectivity and digital audio-video aids as well as innovative and beautiful sitting arrangement in Huddinge campus of KI were mesmerizing. Especially, furniture and interiors developed on basis of student freedom and privacy are more appealing for me. Special mention for very attractive color selections!  

Teaching hours

We were pre-scheduled for teaching, interaction and study visit activities. I did teaching in form lecture to students on School Children Health and Physiotherapy in India.Also, we participated in Debate sessions with staff and students at Karolinska Institutet.  We did participated in Community and Home Based Rehabilitation  course. We did taught in various ways like evaluation activities, cultural interactions, debate introduction ans sessions for around 1 hour per week (15%)  1 lesson per hour. We supervised pratical session and debate activities for around two hours (5%). We spent mximum time in study visits (50%) and CHBR course lectures (30%).