Here at Kolba Lab, we continue testing new innovative approaches in implementing, connecting projects and finding synergies between different programmatic directions. In this blog we would like to share a recent experience of two projects: City Experiment Fund “Talent Nests: small cities for people” regional project financed by the Slovak Ministry of Finance, and “Accelerating women’s empowerment for economic resilience and renewal – the post COVID-19 reboot in Armenia” project, funded by the UNDP/ Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MTPF).
Experimenting with systems approach we have built connection between urban innovation and youth entrepreneurship tracks, designing custom internship format for youth from secondary cities of Armenia. This combined intervention resulted in addressing the real needs of both the youth and the community. The initiative was designed to support the youth in the regions by skilling and upskilling, meanwhile addressing the local needs of the communities. An internship program was organized for students and recent graduates from the regions of Armenia. The three-month internship was composed of the preparation of professional assignments by the employer, professional skills development, consulting, practical work in different sectors, including the medical one.
We had a chance to talk to Seda, a student at Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), who successfully completed her three-month paid internship in her hometown, at Stepanavan Medical Center (MC).
She mentioned how enriching this experience was for her professional growth. Practical skills are irreplaceable for future doctors. She was happy she was given this unique opportunity to grow and develop professionally and be in her hometown. She was treated very well by her colleagues at the MC and developed a set of knowledge and tools to be used in future. This internship opportunity also helped her pave the way to the specialization she would like to obtain, that is radiology. Seda would like to go back and work in her hometown upon graduation if a job opportunity is available.
Along with the enthusiasm and overall satisfaction with the internship, Seda mentioned that there is a lack of medical professionals in the city that affects the availability and accessibility of the healthcare for the local population. She highlighted that to contribute to solving of the problems of the shortage of the doctors in the Stepanavan Medical Center and in general in medical centers of the regions, such internship and apprenticeship initiatives need to be institutionalized to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the inflow of specialists into the regions.
We also had a chance to talk to the Head of the Stepanavan Medical Center, Ms. Margaryan, who was also incredibly positive about the internship program and would like to see more interns from the Yerevan State Medical University in the medical center. She indicated that it would be ideal if students would do their internship at the hospital in summer and would be higher than first- and second-year students. As she confirmed, one of the key issues for Stepanavan MC remains the lack of specialists. She highlighted that the chances of success of such initiatives would increase if the interns engaged are from the region, as they have more ties and attachment to the region and are more likely to remain or return for full-time employment.
“Giving this internship opportunity to students who are originating from the region would help to encourage them to stay and work after completing the internship,” stated Ms. Margaryan
She mentioned about another great initiative, trilateral agreement between the Ministry of Healthcare, Stepanavan MC and any other state medical institution in Armenia, which enables current employees to move to a regional medical center and both keep the job and receive renumeration from both institutions. According to Ms. Margaryan, it would be great to find synergies between these two initiatives and organize internship programs for senior and resident students of YSMU in the regions.
Experimenting with systems approach we have built connection between urban innovation and youth entrepreneurship tracks, designing custom internship format for youth from secondary cities of Armenia.