SPACE: SCOPE Virtual Exchange

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of students studying abroad consistently increased in the past decade. In 2019, the number reached 710,000, increasing by 8.3 percent to the 2018 figure (New Oriental, 2020). Also, if there was no pandemic, the number of 2020 would reach a new high according to the trend, but it never happened. During this pandemic, many things have been put to a halt. Along with those things, are exchange programs. We might all think that we might not be able to go on an exchange this year, as well as not meet new people from somewhere else around the world. But during this modern day and age, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Hence, to allow the annual exchange program to keep going, SCOPE CIMSA UGM decided to hop on the virtual exchange program wagon by hosting SCOPE Virtual Exchange (SPACE). It aims to enhance medical students’ knowledge while maintaining cultural understanding during this unfortunate pandemic. Why cultural understanding? Since this will allow the elimination of stereotypes, as well as allowing students to have a highly desired worldwide perspective that is highly valued in the medical field. Before the main event, we hosted an Instagram Live Q&A session with the SCOPE Regional Assistant for Asia-Pacific, Prinrasar Mongkolkul to attract participants towards exchange. There, we discussed a bunch of things regarding our countries similarities and differences as well as some fun facts about her country of Thailand.

On the first day, we decided to give the participants some very fun facts about the country of Thailand. Before the virtual exchange started, the participants initially had to take a pre-test. We had dr. Heru Sutanto Koerniawan, Sp. B, from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to give us a lecture about “Basic Surgical Skills”. After the lecture session, we held a practical session with 2 great instructors, dr. Heru Sutanto Koerniawan, Sp. B from MSF, and dr. Yudha Mathan Sakti, Sp. OT from Dr. Sardjito Public Hospital, who instructed the practical session of “Knot Tying” and “Suturing”. During the practical session, the participants also had a chance to be assisted with their suturing and knot tying by the respected doctors.

On the second day, not detouring far from the first day, we decided to give some fun facts about the country of Guatemala and France as well as a QnA with the SCOPE Regional Assistant for America and Europe. Throughout the day, we had dr. Nurardhilah Vityadewi, SpBP-RE deliver 2 lectures that covered the topics of “Introduction to Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery” and “Breast Reconstruction Surgery”. Finally, at the end of the day, we had the participants take a post-test.

With this, we hope that we can help future exchange participants visualize what it’s like to go on an exchange. Even though this was held online, the experience is as good as it is when it’s held offline.