10 Years of the Health Sciences & Leadership university program: a success model for executive education in healthcare
In 2014, the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU) in Salzburg launched a foward-thinking and future-oriented continuing education program for healthcare executives: the part-time university program in Health Sciences & Leadership. A decade later, this successful program welcomes its 10th cohort, with a revamped and modernised curriculum.
From September 11 to 13, 24 senior and junior executives from fields such as medicine, research, nursing, administration, and psychology will gather for the first three-day in-person session of the Health Sciences & Leadership program (ULG HSL) at PMU in Salzburg. Once again, demand for the program has been high, and it is fully booked. "Word of mouth remains the primary reason most applicants choose to apply," says program director Barbara Karitnig.
Karitnig explains the program's success: "The ULG Health Sciences & Leadership was designed to meet the clear demand for a part-time, tailored, and future-oriented university-level education for healthcare leaders. From the start, the curriculum was carefully aligned with the unique needs of the industry, focusing on complementing the existing expertise of working professionals to prepare them for leadership roles in research, management, and healthcare administration. Over the course of six semesters, students develop and enhance their personal leadership skills." A key success factor, she notes, is the program's strong emphasis on interprofessionalism. “When we launched 10 years ago, some doubted that we could attract a diverse student group from fields like medicine, nursing, administration, and allied health for the same program. Yet this diversity has proven to be a major strength and a clear success factor in every cohort.”
Another critical aspect of the program's success is its unwavering focus on the specific needs of healthcare leaders. The curriculum is continuously updated and refined to meet emerging requirements, based on feedback from students and alumni and close attention to trends and developments in the industry. Strategic partnerships further enhance the program’s relevance. From the beginning, the ULG HSL has been a joint project between PMU and the Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK)/University Hospital Salzburg. "The ULG Health Sciences & Leadership is a central tool for developing leadership talent at Salzburg Provincial Hospitals and is integrated into the career development models of various professional groups," says Burkhard van der Vorst, a member of the joint steering committee from SALK. In 2023, another key partnership was formed with the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (AUVA), where the program is now also recognized as an effective development tool for healthcare leaders.
Curriculum 2024: extensively revamped
After nearly 10 years of success, the ULG curriculum has undergone a major overhaul. In addition to strengthening "scientific competence" as a fourth core area, new specialized topics have been introduced, including Agile Management Methods, Crisis Management, and Global Health. Emerging subjects such as Sustainability, Digitalization, and Self-Leadership and Resilience have also been incorporated. With this newly developed curriculum, the ULG is ready to train the next generation of healthcare leaders. Beginning in 2024, the program will also comply with new legal standards, offering graduates the academic degree of "Master of Science (Continuing Education)," abbreviated as "MSc (CE)."
More information: https://www.pmu.ac.at/hsl.html
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