Czech Republic is a partner of the first Biomedial Engeneering University Course in Cambodia
04.02.2022 / 07:32 | Aktualizováno: 22.02.2022 / 04:31
A team from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering from the Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague prepared 20 practical laboratory tasks for teaching fluid mechanics and plumbing at the Institute of Technology Cambodian. The laboratory exercises will help students to better understand the lectured topics, but most importantly to get acquainted with the studied physical laws related to real cases in hospitals and medical devices. As part of the team's trip to Cambodia, these prepared laboratory exercises were completed and put into operation at the same time a presentation was delivered to the teachers who are now trained in performing and conducting the laboratory exercises.
A mission of two engineers from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the CTU in Prague was conducted in Cambodia from 13 January 2022 to 26 January 2022. Prof. Karel Roubík, Ph.D., Deputy Head of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering and Vice Dean for International Relations and PR, and his assistant Simon Walzel are behind the project called Establishment of a quality education program on Biomedical engineering in Cambodia – Laboratory Tasks, which has been running since 2019. The course was inaugurated in 2019, but unfortunately closed again the following year due to restrictions on full-time teaching during the pandemic. The re-opening has taken place in the presence of the Embassy and opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Martin Vávra as well as the Rector of the partner University of Health Science, Prof. Sapun Vatanak and Dr. Om Romy, Director of the Technical Institute where the lab is physically located. However, the number of students has decreased since 2019 as some have left to study abroad or have been admitted to medical doctor course. Thus, there are currently 6 highly motivated male and female students in their first year, who are now training intensively in the newly equipped laboratory. The reopening of the course included the handover of laboratory equipment for teaching basic tasks in fluid mechanics and plumbing. During their mission, the experts also made sure that the lab was properly equipped with furniture, set up and wired the lab tasks, handed over the literature for the student library and instructed the students in detail on how to use each task, including computer measurements or the use of the supplied 3D printer. This will be use to print any additional or new components, the printer from the Czech company Prusa Research was provided along with detailed instructions in English. In addition to 7 intensive days with the students in the laboratory, Prof. Roubík participated in a reception with the Cambodian Minister of Health, where he presented the progress of the project so far, stressing the importance of the presence of technically educated staff in the hospital and the fact that this profession is not only about maintaining equipment, but about saving lives and also about considerable financial savings on the part of the hospital. Moreover, the pressure on maintenance and consumables in the health sector has multiplied after the pandemic, with more donors focusing on equipping hospitals. During the mission, there was also an opportunity to talk to the Rector about the possible continuation of the project and its priorities, which highlighted in particular the need to better inform the public and secondary school students about the newly emerging field and its career prospects. In the second half of the year, the project is planning a trip of teachers from Cambodia to the Czech Republic, where they will have the opportunity to see the operation and practice at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the CTU.