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Abstract

An Erasmus Intensive Programme (IP) is a short program of study that brings together students and teaching staff from institutions of higher education of at least 3 participating countries. Its duration can range from 10 continuous full days to 6 weeks of subject-related work. An Erasmus IP is funded under the Lifelong Learning Programme [1http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/index_en.htmGoogle Scholar]. Projects are intended not only for individual students and learners but also for teachers, trainers, and all others involved in education and training. The objectives of an IP are to encourage efficient multinational teaching of specialist topics that might otherwise not be taught at all or only in a restricted number of institutions of higher education, to enable students and teachers to work together in multinational groups and thus benefit from special learning and teaching conditions not available in a single institution, and to gain new perspectives on the topic being studied. Overall in Europe, minimally invasive procedures in endoscopic gynecology are underrepresented in academic courses. Our IPs have been conceived to bring together doctoral students, senior medical students, and teachers of diverse higher education institutions to provide a complete overview on the proper management of patients seeking minimally invasive care for gynecologic disorders. Most important is to standardize techniques and to provide the same educational opportunities to European trainees from different European countries. In particular, our IP courses provide delivery of 100 hours of activity among class lessons, laboratorial activity, and social and leisure activities. In our 2 previous experiences, the partnership has been represented by the following European Institutions: (1) Universitatsfrauenklinik, University of Tübingen (Prof. Diethelm Wallwiener), Erasmus ID Code D TUBINGE01, Erasmus University Charter 29861; (2) Pole de Gynecologie-Obstetrique, University of Strasbourg (Prof. Arnaud Wattiez), Erasmus ID Code F STRASBO48, Erasmus University Charter 28312; (3) Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cagliari (Prof. Stefano Angioni), Erasmus ID Code I CAGLIAR01, Erasmus University Charter 28655; and (4) Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Foggia, (Prof. Luigi Nappi, Course Scientific Coordinator), Erasmus ID Code I FOGGIA03, Erasmus University Charter 210470. We have received funds in the amount of about ∼20,000.00€ for each IP course, allocated by the European Union to cover travel and stay costs of our participants (teachers and attendees). The duration of each course is 2 weeks. The first IP course took place at the University of Foggia, Italy, from May 2 to 15, 2011 [2http://www.medicina.unifg.it/LLP_erasmus_GynaecolEndoscopic/home.htmGoogle Scholar], and the second IP course was delivered at the University of Tübingen from April 16 to 27, 2012 [3http://www.medicina.unifg.it/LLP_erasmus_GynaecolEndoscopic/LOCANDINA_MOD.pdfGoogle Scholar]. Applications must be submitted to the National Agency [4http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/ip_en.htmGoogle Scholar] of the institution that coordinates the IP on behalf of all of the partners. Selection is performed by the national agency of the institution that coordinates the IP. If the coordination of an IP (selected under the previous call for proposals) is moving to a different institution of higher education in another country (or in the case of Belgium, to a different National Agency), the application will be assessed on the same basis as a new application. However, also in this case, the total duration of funding for the same or similar IP may not exceed 3 years.