ACCESSIBILITY IN HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION: ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The policy of accessibility in higher education involves ensuring equal access to educational services at each stage of the «student life cycle» (from admission to employment). In wartime, issues of accessibility became more relevant, because vulnerable groups such as military personnel, veterans, people who were forced to leave their place of residence, and others need support. As a relevant aspect in the context of the problem of accessibility, we consider the issue of creating opportunities for involving higher medical education students with special educational needs in research and teaching activities.

The purpose of the article is to briefly present current aspects of barrier-free education in higher medical education: opportunities for obtaining medical education for people with special educational needs, current experience; accessibility of education for combat medics; involvement of students of medical specialties in scientific activities in the context of expanding opportunities for professional development.

The main methods are: theoretical analysis of publications presented in scientific publications included in the scientometric databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Index Copernicus, Ulrich’s Periodicals; generalization of experience in the Youth Council under the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated 09/24/2024 No. 1642), discussion of the problems of barrier-free medical education, the return of combat medics to work in medicine, obtaining medical education https://moz.gov.ua/uk/molodizhna-rada-pri-moz-ukrayini; focus group discussions with students participating in teaching at the Department of Psychology of the Private Higher Educational Institution "Medical and Natural University", the Department of Dentistry of the Institute of Postgraduate Education of the O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University; generalization of the experience of completing an internship at the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy.

The conclusion is made about the relevance of the problem of barrier-free medical education, the involvement of combat medics in training in medical specialties. At the same time, it is advisable to take into account that the acquired practical experience can become a valuable basis for scientific and teaching work. The involvement of medical students with special educational needs in research activities will contribute to the improvement of their psycho-emotional state, while at the same time activating the conduct of relevant research, international projects, and innovative activities, in particular on issues of accessibility in medicine.