International Academic Working Meeting of European and Asian Universities in Athens: ‘Transitioning Healthcare Education into the New Digital Era: Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence for the Contemporary Needs of the Ageing Population’

Professor Emmanouil Pikoulis of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ School of Medicine and the MSc in Global Health – Disaster Medicine coordinated an academic working meeting earlier this month in Athens. The event brought together seven Universities from Europe and Asia as part of the EU-funded LEAN project (Erasmus+, Agreement number 101179632)

The LEAN project aims to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals, both medical and nursing staff, in Thailand and Vietnam, by integrating Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies, smart devices, and AI applications, while promoting innovative practices that respond to the contemporary needs of the ageing population (see https://ambient-lean.eu/).

Participating Universities included

• Prince of Songkla University – Thailand
• Chiang Mai University – Thailand
• Hanoi Medical University – Vietnam
• Nam Dinh University of Nursing – Vietnam
• Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy – Vietnam
• University of Lisbon – Portugal

Among the delegates were Deans Thanee Kaewthummanukul of Chiang Mai University and Luppana Kitrungrote of Prince of Songkla University from Thailand, as well as Phuong Mai Nong of Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Truong Tuan Anh of Nam Dinh University of Nursing from Vietnam. Accompanied by members of their academic communities, they had the opportunity to cooperate with prominent faculty from the University of Athens’ Schools of Medicine and Nursing. They also took a guided tour of the Asclepius Laboratory of Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Anatomy, headed by Professor of Anatomy Theodoros Mariolis-Sapsakos.

During the meeting, Professor Emmanouil Pikoulis underlined the critical role of international collaborations in modernizing curricula and training medical and nursing staff to respond effectively to the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. As the representative of the LEAN consortium, he expressed his sincere thanks to Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs, Chair of the School of Nursing at the University of Athens, for his continuous support and invaluable contribution to the successful implementation of the initiative.

According to Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs, ‘the Department of Nursing at the University of Athens engages in all processes, meetings, and collaborative activities developed as part of the LEAN project, with a particular emphasis on the care of geriatric patients. Our presence and contribution to this international initiative reflect our firm commitment to advancing nursing science through interdisciplinary collaboration and to continuously developing academic and clinical education. We recognize that today’s world requires new skills, familiarity with digital tools, the adoption of innovative pedagogical approaches, and the best use of technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health. For this reason, we actively support every initiative aimed at improving the quality of teaching, hands-on training, and the overall educational experience of our students. At the same time, we give special attention to strengthening the international reach of our Department. The exchange of students and faculty, the development of joint programmes, the networking of research groups, and the creation of an open channel of communication with Universities across Europe and Asia form the foundations of a state-of-the-art Department of Nursing. Our involvement in the LEAN project represents an important step in this direction. Through the exchange of experiences, the adoption of best practices, and collective effort, we help prepare future healthcare professionals for the challenges of an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. As Chair of the Department of Nursing, I will continue to consistently support every initiative that promotes quality, innovation, and international collaboration, ensuring that our School remains at the forefront of nursing education’.