"New paths in medical teaching and research"

The European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen (EMS) is considered unique in Europe. Around 600 invited guests attended its opening today in the Audimax of the University of Oldenburg, including the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, David McAllister.

Also present were the Dutch Honorary Consul Hylke Boerstra (representing Marnix Krop, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Lower Saxony's Science Minister Prof Dr Johanna Wanka and Aygül Özkan, Lower Saxony's Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Family, Health and Integration.

"Impetus for the healthcare sector"

The European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen is the highly visible result of 30 years of co-operation between the universities of Oldenburg and Groningen, explained Prof. Dr Babette Simon, President of the University of Oldenburg, right at the start of the event. "With its transnational structure, the European Medical School is unique in Europe. Together, we are breaking new ground in medical teaching and research and providing impetus for the development of the healthcare sector in our region. Patient care will also benefit directly from this."

Prof. Dr Sibrand Poppema, President of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, emphasised: "With the European Medical School, we are now offering a German-language training course based on the Groningen model in addition to a Dutch and English-language medical degree course. This enables us to train doctors for the whole of Europe, especially for north-west Germany, which is facing a shortage of doctors."

Practice- and research-oriented teaching concept / Hearing research excellently positioned

The European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen (EMS) stands out in particular for its practice- and research-oriented teaching concept. Research is centred on the areas of "Neurosensory Science" and "Healthcare Research". Hearing research in neurosensory science is already excellently positioned and recognised both nationally and internationally. In the summer, the University of Oldenburg scored highly in the Excellence Initiative of the federal and state governments with the "Hearing4all" cluster of excellence. The University of Oldenburg, which submitted the successful proposal together with Hannover Medical School and Leibniz Universität Hannover, is in charge of the consortium on the topic of hearing.

The new University Medicine Oldenburg site was made possible by the University's collaboration with Klinikum Oldenburg, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg and Pius-Hospital Oldenburg. Close co-operation with the Karl Jaspers Clinic and doctors in private practice in the region complement University Medicine Oldenburg.

"Making innovative treatment methods even more available"

"With the EMS, we want to establish first-class medical teaching at the University of Oldenburg and further expand research," emphasised Prof. Dr Eckhart Hahn, Dean of the recently founded School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Oldenburg. According to Hahn, this will make innovative treatment methods even more available in the region.

"It is very nice that there is now also a School of Medicine in north-west Germany," explained Prof. Dr Folkert Kuipers, Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and member of the Board of the Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG). "In this way, Dutch and German medical students can get to know health science in both countries."

Medical studies started on 1 October / High demand, special selection procedure

The first 40 Oldenburg students on the model course in human medicine began their studies on 1 October. From day one, everyday life on the programme has been characterised by a strong practical focus. The prospective doctors immediately come into contact with real-life requirements: Every week, a patient and their illness are presented; the entire study week is based on this case. Problem-oriented learning, job-related communication training and strong links to research characterise the course.

Interest in the new degree programme is very high. 1,253 young people applied for the 40 places on the programme, 250 of them from outside Europe. In addition to A-level grades, the university placed particular emphasis on communication skills in the selection procedure.

Oldenburg students spend at least one year of their six-year degree programme in Groningen. Groningen students also have the opportunity to study in Oldenburg for a year. In this way, a profound insight into a different European healthcare system is provided. The degree programme concludes with the State Examination. In addition, EMS students can obtain a Master's degree in "Geneeskunde" at the partner university in Groningen.

Boost from funding from the state of Lower Saxony / Broad support from the city and region

The state of Lower Saxony is providing around 17 million euros for the establishment of the EMS in the first two years. A total of 57.5 million euros is to flow into the project by 2015. Of this, 8.5 million euros will come from the "Niedersächsisches Vorab".

On 12 November 2010, the German Council of Science and Humanities, the most important science policy advisory body of the federal and state governments, paved the way for the German-Dutch joint project with its positive vote - and thus for the establishment of a new medical location at the University of Oldenburg. However, the subject of medicine has been on the university's agenda since 1971, when the university's founding committee set up a "Medical Planning Commission" in the hope of establishing a medical faculty. For financial reasons, the plans could not be realised.

The financing promised by the state government of Lower Saxony and the constitution of the EMS founding committee gave the EMS further impetus in mid-2011. However, the city and region also provided broad moral and financial support for the joint German-Dutch project. Leading business representatives contributed several million euros.

In the summer of 2012, a medical school was founded for the first time in more than 20 years in Germany: the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Oldenburg.