EUVECA – European Platform for Vocational Excellence in Health Care

Programme: Erasmus+
Project Status: ONGOING (June 2022 – May 2026)


What aims and scope

To support the necessary innovation and development of the healthcare sector to ensure that healthcare professionals acquire the relevant competencies to meet current challenges, such as an ageing population, the increase in chronic diseases and the digitalisation of health systems.

More specifically, it will:

  • Contribute to the sustainability of the European healthcare system via better planning of skill needs as well as enhanced training of present and future healthcare professionals
  • Increase the quality and appeal of vocational training and lifelong learning within the European healthcare sector
  • Improve and promote long-term sustainable collaboration within higher health education and vocational educational training

How it will become possible 

With the aforementioned aims, EUVECA partners will work together to establish seven Regional Hubs of Professional Excellence across Europe where healthcare professionals will develop the skills necessary for achieving sustainability of the sector.

Additionally, the partners will conceive a European Platform of Professional Excellence, which will integrate the regional hubs and act as a meeting-and-coordination point among them and other relevant organisations.

The following skill areas will be of key focus interest:

  • Digital 
  • Communication 
  • Patient involvement and health literacy
  • Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
  • Multidisciplinary approaches and innovation 

All primary developments made will contribute to the European Skills Agenda focusing on digital and green skills in support of the so-called “21st-century skills”, e.g., problem-solving, teamworking, analytical and critical thinking.

Where EHMA delivers 

EHMA will mainly focus on supporting stakeholder engagement and dissemination activities, drawing on its extensive experience in these tasks from both European-funded projects and internal activities. In addition to that, EHMA’s membership and external network will be leveraged to facilitate the outreach of the project and transfer the project outcomes to specific external audiences, such as patients, insurers, healthcare professionals associations, and peers for revisions. Furthermore, EHMA will improve access to evidence-based practice and support dissemination through its website, social media, workshops, and final conference.

For more information about the project and the possibilities for involvement, check this flyer.

 

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

WHY YOU WILL BENEFIT

Learnings and progress made in the project will support the training of digital skills among health professionals. This means that initiatives considering the integration of digital technologies in health systems will be met with a more prepared workforce capable of maximising the use of such tools.

Furthermore, as professionals will be digitally more competent to leverage such technologies, health systems could experience more streamlining in practices and operations. This could translate into lower expenditures and better patient health and quality of life outcomes.

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What our Members say

I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.

Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy

Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.

Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria

I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.

Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta

EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.

Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK

Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.

Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary

As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.

Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal

Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.

Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK

Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.

Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain