Developing curriculum in bioengineering and medical informatics at Western Balkan Universities

The broad fields of Bioengineering (BE) and Medical Informatics (MI) are among the most prominent and fastest developing scientific areas. These are considered as key, out of a few, challenges within crucial research and innovation strategies worldwide. Almost every university wanting to be in accordance with a technological progress offers a curricula in BE&MI at master and doctoral levels, and numerous offer bachelor level degrees, as well. Where it is not the case, state and universities authorities are making efforts to open dedicated study programs. Following the evident needs European Commission promotes such actions through its educational strategies and corresponding projects, Tempus being one of these. The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) granted regional Tempus project “Studies in Bioengineering and Medical Informatics - BioEMIS” aiming at introducing devoted study programs at Western Balkan countries, namely Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The following short study highlights the main guidelines of BE&MI study programs development, respecting European good practice.

[1]  T Joyce Currently available medical engineering degrees in the UK. Part 1: Undergraduate degrees , 2009, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[2]  V. Maojo,et al.  Biomedical Informatics and HealthGRIDs: A European Perspective - Past and Current Efforts and Projects in the Synergy of Bionformatics and Medical Informatics , 2007, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine.

[3]  D W Slaaf,et al.  The fully integrated biomedical engineering programme at Eindhoven University of Technology , 2009, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[4]  M. S. Bruzzi,et al.  BioInnovate Ireland—Fostering Entrepreneurial Activity Through Medical Device Innovation Training , 2013, Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

[5]  G Baselli Biomedical engineering education at Politecnico di Milano: Development and recent changes , 2009, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[6]  Raphael C. Lee Convolving Engineering and Medical Pedagogies for Training of Tomorrow's Health Care Professionals , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[7]  Yuan-Ting Zhang,et al.  Grand Challenges in Interfacing Engineering With Life Sciences and Medicine , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[8]  Brian J. Lithgow Biomedical engineering curriculum:- a comparison between the USA, Europe and Australia , 2001, 2001 Conference Proceedings of the 23rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[9]  J. Barbenel,et al.  Medical and Biological Engineering and Science in the European Higher Education Area - Working Toward Harmonization of Biomedical Programs for Mobility in Education and Employment , 2007, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine.

[10]  M Wallen,et al.  Developing research competencies through a project-based tissue-engineering module in the biomedical engineering undergraduate curriculum , 2009, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[11]  Zhivko Bliznakov,et al.  Challenges of the biomedical engineering education in Europe , 2010, 2010 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology.

[12]  S L Evans,et al.  Medical engineering at Cardiff University. Part 1: Undergraduate programmes of study , 2009, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.