Integrating Global Engagement in Health Professions Education: Applying a 10-step model using design thinking for deep stakeholder collaboration and impact

Introduction/Background: Global engagement in health professions education is essential to address health issues within a global context. 1 Developing a future health workforce with skills to operate across cultures and nations is crucial. Building student capacity for clinical skills that include global awareness, cultural responsiveness, and interprofessional collaborative practice is vital in this era of significant global health problems.
A successful global engagement strategy requires substantial stakeholder involvement. Design thinking, a human-centered collaborative approach, is particularly suited for developing educational strategies as it prioritizes stakeholder input and addresses their concerns and feedback. What sets design thinking apart from other problem-solving methods is its focus on the end-user experience.
Methods: In this workshop, participants will be introduced to a 10-step process based on design thinking to create and implement a global engagement strategy. This versatile framework can be applied across departments, faculties, entire universities, and clinical settings. The workshop will also cover key ethical principles necessary for building responsible and sustainable global engagement programs. A case study demonstrating the application of the ten-step model will be presented, followed by an opportunity for participants to explore how the framework could be adapted to their own contexts. Experienced facilitators will support participants in brainstorming and developing tailored global engagement strategies.
Learning Objectives:
• Explain the concept of global engagement in health professions education
• llustrate and analyse examples of global engagement in health professions education
• Examine the significance of interprofessional education in the context of global engagement
• Recognise the advantages and potential drawbacks of poorly planned global engagement in health professions education
• Identify essential ethical principles relevant to global engagement
• Outline the ten-step global engagement strategy development framework
• Apply the ten-step global engagement strategy framework in one’s own setting
Educational approach: The workshop will use interactive small group methodologies such as discussions, brainstorm activities, and small group practical ‘hands on’ tasks.