City partners with Bridge Programme offering ESOL Course for Medical Professionals
James Davies, AD ESOL and Communities, Morag McIntosh, ESOL Lecturer, Karen McIntyre, CEO The Bridges Programmes, and Dr David Ritchie, The Bridges Programmes.
In a collaborative effort to unlock career pathways, the ESOL department of City of Glasgow College, in partnership with Bridges Programmes, remains dedicated to empowering international healthcare graduates through its ESOL for Medical Professionals course. This innovative program, tailored to support participants in the Refugee Doctors Programme and other healthcare professionals, provides essential medical English proficiency required for the Occupational English Test, a crucial step towards practicing in Scotland.
Recently, the College hosted a series of events aimed at immersing students in real-life scenarios to refine their language skills. Under the guidance of Dr David Ritchie from Bridges Programmes, a diverse array of scenarios was meticulously crafted, enabling students to apply their learning in simulated healthcare environments. Leveraging the College's healthcare teaching facilities, students engaged in clinically designed scenarios, with ESOL Lecturer Morag McIntosh, Dr Ritchie, and Associate Dean for ESOL and Communities James Davies acting as patients.
Expressing the College's dedication to dynamic learning, James expressed:
‘We really wanted to bring the teaching and learning on this course to life, and through the role plays, we enabled our students to practice their speaking and listening skills with native speakers. This is a great example of active learning, and David provided an excellent plenary after each role play, to reflect on language skills used, and clinical approaches. This vital course supports students in preparing to work in the health and social care sector in Scotland.’
Dr Ritchie's thoughtful discussions after each role play provided valuable insights on language skills and clinical methods, enhancing the students' learning experience. This course serves as a catalyst for individuals to pursue their aspirations in the healthcare sector.
The collaboration between City of Glasgow College, NHS Scotland, and Bridges Programmes underscores a shared commitment to support international healthcare graduates in their journey towards professional registration in Scotland. CEO of the Bridges Programme, Karen McIntyre expressed:
‘The Refugee Doctors Project is a key cross-sector collaboration involving City of Glasgow College, Bridges Programmes, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and other agencies. It's a great example of how refugees are welcomed and empowered to work in their professions…[The] College has consistently ensured that doctors on the OET For Medical Professionals course have not just a good grasp of language, but of how to communicate, and the expectations of NHS patients, families, and colleagues. This means that students are well prepared for the next step of their journey towards GMC registration. The scenario exercises brought the students' learning to life; it was a great learning experience, but also very motivational for everyone involved. We are delighted to have City of Glasgow College as an essential partner within this project.’
As the College continues to champion initiatives like the Refugee Doctors Project, it stands as an opportunity for individuals striving to make meaningful contributions to healthcare in Scotland.