Global Engagement in Health Professions Education: What do educators think, what do students want?

Background: In a globalised world where health challenges are becoming more complex, there is an urgent need to ensure the future health workforce is equipped to respond. Integrating global engagement into health professions education is essential for preparing students to work across cultures, communities and nations. Furthermore, research has demonstrated the importance of connecting students with the world in order to develop globally engaged leaders, global citizens, improve global relations and enhance graduate employability. To achieve this, understanding and addressing students’ perspectives and priorities regarding global engagement is necessary. This investigation aimed to determine whether health professions students believe global engagement should be included in their studies and, if so, how? The study also seeks to compare this to academic staff perspectives.
Methods: The study employed a qualitative, constructivist approach using an online survey and student focus groups with data collected in 2024. Data analysis of the focus group discussions involve descriptive statistics and framework analysis of the focus group transcripts. University ethics approval has been granted for this research.
Results: A total of 183 students from 12 different health-focused courses at a large Australian university responded to the survey. These responses informed the development of questions for student and staff focus groups. Subsequently, 15 students from 6 health professions courses participated in 4 online focus groups, along with 17 staff from 9 health professions courses. Data analysis from these focus groups is currently in progress.
Discussion: This presentation will share the final outcomes from the study providing contemporary student and staff perspectives of incorporating global engagement into health professions education. Findings from this study will be used to inform the development of a faculty global engagement strategy in health professions education.