EthCo intensive week in Malta: A journey into healthcare ethics across borders
In April 2024, the University of Malta became the vibrant hub of international collaboration as it hosted the EthCo Intensive Week—an Erasmus+ initiative dedicated to exploring ethics in healthcare as part of EthCo project. This unique event brought together nursing and physiotherapy students, as well as educators and professionals, from Latvia, Finland, Spain Malta and Sweden.
The EthCo project—short For Better Ethical Safety in Future Health Care Environments—aims to develop, deliver, and evaluate educational resources that enhance ethical competence in healthcare settings. The intensive week in Malta was a key milestone in this mission. All partners took actively part in planning and implementing this crown jewel of the EthCo project, the intensive week for students.
A Week of Learning, Sharing, and Growing
Over five immersive days, 2–8 representatives from each partner country engaged in a rich blend of academic and social activities. The mornings were dedicated to thought-provoking lectures on topics such as:
- Critical Thinking and the Fundamentals of Ethics
- Professional Ethics
- Ethical Safety
- Moral Distress and Resilience
- Future Trends in Healthcare Ethics
- Ethical Challenges in Physiotherapy Education
These sessions laid the foundation for deeper discussions and practical applications throughout the week.
Ethical Coffee Rooms: Conversations That Matter
Two sessions of the “Ethical Coffee Room” offered a safe and structured space for participants to reflect on real-life ethical dilemmas. Each 90-minute session began with a model case, followed by open discussions of students’ own experiences. These conversations fostered empathy, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding.
Simulations: Ethics in Action
Simulations were a highlight of the week, with two days of classroom-based scenarios and one day in a hospital environment. These multiprofessional simulations challenged participants to navigate ethical issues collaboratively, emphasizing teamwork and professional communication. The debriefings revealed just how effectively students from different countries could come together to address complex ethical challenges.
Malta: The Perfect Host
The Maltese setting added a special charm to the week. Warm weather, generous hospitality, eclectic cuisine, and stunning historical architecture created a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged connection and collaboration. The cultural richness of Malta mirrored the diversity of the participants, making the experience even more meaningful.
Reflections and Impact
Feedback from the week was overwhelmingly positive. Participants appreciated the safe space to share experiences and analyse the situation in ethical coffee rooms, simulations as fun and educational and the interactivity of engaging the students in active learning also in the theory lessons. Discussions revealed both shared values and cultural differences in healthcare practices, enriching everyone’s understanding of ethics in a global context.
As one participant put it, “I loved every part of this intensive week, and it was a really enriching experience. I feel very grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate. Being able to learn from other cultures was truly a gift.”
Authors:
Suvi Kivelä, Turku University of Applied Sciences
Maria Cassar, University of Malta