We live internationally

An example of a transnational approach at the European level is the Bologna Process, which seeks to integrate higher education traditions from across the European Union.   Innovative concepts such as the European Universities Initiative will start to play an increasingly important role in higher education, including in academic medicine. Charité will start to develop its networks by building international collaborations.

Presently, levels of student mobility at Charité are very good. With over 82 partners from across 26 countries, Erasmus+ offers a total of 182 exchange places for students of medicine, dentistry, the health care sciences and public health. In addition to these, there are more than 30 clinical elective and final year practical training rotations in non-European locations.

Charité also offers three English-language Master’s programs – International Health, Medical Neurosciences and Molecular Medicine – which attract mainly international students. The International Health Master’s degree program is genuinely international in both content and outlook.  In addition the program pays special attention to Global Health and Healthcare Systems in the so-called Global South.

Charité International Patients aims to deliver optimal services for Charité’s international patients, ensuring they can both access and benefit from Charité’s high - end medical services. Providing services for international patients is not merely an opportunity to further enhance Charité’s reputation and visibility on the international stage; rather, it is also of enormous significance in terms of supporting scientific progress, particularly with regard to patients with rare diseases. Over the past few years, Charité has started coordinating certain activities with Vivantes, covering the areas of business development, organizational processes and treatments available. 

In addition, the Charité international staff members (such as medical specialist programs and other initiatives) attract more patients from their countries of origin in their work areas. Thus, the demand for treatment at the Charité is high, which is also due to respective rankings (published in Focus and Newsweek).

Science depends on communication and exchange across different countries and cultures. Increasing diversity within the Faculty is, therefore, essential to enhancing both the reputation and research performance of the Charité.  In order to strengthen the Charité as an attractive workplace for scientists and researchers, the Charité has implemented a comprehensive Tenure Track Program, which offers an internationally recognized career path. 

Furthermore, the Charité offers excellent conditions to young researchers, both from within Germany and beyond, who wish to embark on a career in research.  Thanks to the introduction of the new Doctoral Degree Regulations in 2017, Charité does not only offer the conferral of a doctorate, titled “Dr. med.”, but is also able to offer students the option of studying for the internationally recognized doctoral qualification PhD and MD/PhD. In the area of clinical research, talented young candidates have access to the BIH-Charité Clinician Scientist Program, an outstanding mechanism for supporting candidates wishing to pursue a career at the interface of clinical practice and research by providing targeted funding and protected time for the pursuit of research. 

The Charité has also developed targeted programs to win and commit international clinical staff. Currently international health care workers are being recruited and receiving language training as well as undergoing special staff development programs. In order to win specialized nursing staff, the nursing directorate pays special attention on a successful integration into the workplace as well as offering continuous education.  International doctors have the opportunity to work at the Charité via structured national program called “Medical Specialist Training Program” lasting approx. 5 to 6 years. After completion, the physicians acquire the German specialist-training certificate for physicians, which is unique in Germany. The program begins with a 1-year language-training program - from beginner to C1 - and is closely supervised by the Chief Medical Officer. 

As a result, the Charité has been able to build a doctor’s alumni network, which in turn secures international relations, strengthens Charité’s reputation internationally and increases the incoming patient flow from abroad.

Our international colleagues from the areas of education, research, health care and administration make an impact and contribute significantly to Charité’s diversity.  

Under the header “Global responsibility at home”, Charité delivers voluntary health care services to vulnerable groups with limited access to medical or preventive care.
Examples of this include Charité’s specialist outpatient services and its vaccination campaign for refugees. These initiatives have resulted in Charité being assigned permanent responsibility for the treatment of refugees with mental health problems, and the medical examination and vaccination of all newly arrived asylum seekers. In this area, Charité seek to work closely with public health services in order to complement their existing spectrum of services. Charité’s commitment to the care of vulnerable groups also extends to its curriculum, which ensures that medical students are introduced to this topic early on in their studies.

Charité Global Health department stands for collaboration on an equal footing with national as well as international partner institutions, particularly in the Global South. Many of the challenges and characteristics of health and disease do not respect national borders; they exist at both the local and global levels. The Federal Republic of Germany is highly committed to humanitarian principles and is expanding its involvement in the area of Global Health Policy. It has taken the fully justifiable decision to make global health a priority, both in strategic and political terms.
In line with its guiding principles, research – education/teaching - healing - helping, the Charité assumes international responsibility and together with the Charité Global Health unit works on fighting diseases and improving health.

As part of its role in the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), the Charité is involved in the development of the Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE). The BCGE supports the BUA’s scientific ties with its partners in the Global South. The BCGE will also serve as a think tank, and as a service provider for the areas of science diplomacy, dealing with crisis regions and protecting academic freedom. 

The World Health Summit is an annual conference held by the M8 Alliance, one of Charité’s strategic networks. The M8 Alliance is a think tank of 28 members from a total of 19 countries.

In the ten years since its foundation in 2009, the WHS has developed into one of the leading international forums in the fields of public health and global health, and boasts a network of approximately 25,000 people from 9,500 organizations. The idea behind the event – that of an intersectional health care conference which attracts representatives from science, business, politics and civil society and covers a broad spectrum of issues ranging from basic science to governance – is more important than ever. This is why the WHS operates under the motto Science – Innovation – Policies.
 
As part of its efforts to remain a long-term partner for health care institutions in countries of the Global South, particularly in Africa, the Charité has established a number of clinical partnerships. In addition to collaborations with individual hospitals, the Charité currently has eight partnerships which are funded as part of the ‘Hospital Partnerships’ initiative (Initiative Klinikpartnerschaften) of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).