Quality Management

Quality Policy of Semmelweis University

Taking into account its values, mission, and vision, and having considered them at a strategic level, Semmelweis University hereby issues the following statement of intent:

• In all its operations, the University regards quality as a primary consideration, whether in the processes of education, research or patient care.

• To this end, it establishes for itself the conditions and creates the frameworks necessary to support the effective realization of these activities.

• It develops and operates a Quality Management System that enables the institution to carry out its duties and achieve its objectives.

• It is committed to the continuous improvement of its quality management system.

In addition, the University formulates subsidiary policies designed to support the implementation of its individual core processes. The driving force underlying our quality policy is the aspiration that the name of Semmelweis University should be synonymous with quality.

Quality Policy for Dual Education

Through this quality policy statement, we commit ourselves to ensuring the delivery of high-quality dual education by:

• planning, implementing, evaluating, and improving tasks related to dual education in accordance with the PDCA cycle;

• continuously measuring the effectiveness of our activities and, by drawing on the results obtained, refining and further improving our processes;

• regularly assessing the extent to which the established quality objectives have been achieved;

• providing the resources necessary for the realization of the stated objectives;

• consistently taking into account and meeting the needs related to dual education of students, participants in training, employers, staff members, instructors, and other relevant stakeholders, and, through satisfaction measurement as well as preventive and corrective actions, considering and incorporating their feedback into the implementation of quality assurance.

Semmelweis University’s ESG-Based Quality Policy (Sectoral Policy)

In accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), Semmelweis University (SE) defines its quality policy, thereby expressing its commitment to a balanced and mutually reinforcing operation of research, education, learning and teaching.

1. sub-policy: Managing the Beginning of Student Life

1.1.    Semmelweis University operates an admissions system designed to ensure that well-prepared and motivated students are admitted to its programs, thereby safeguarding the quality of education and meeting societal expectations. By maintaining high entry requirements, the University can ensure that graduates leaving the institution possess the appropriate level of professional knowledge and competence.

1.2.    Prospective Semmelweis University students are able to make well-considered choices regarding their faculty and program of study.

1.3.    Students are able to integrate into the research and social communities of their chosen faculty and program.

1.4.    During the first year of university study, students gradually develop from secondary school pupils into independent university students. To support this transition, the University provides various forms of assistance that facilitate student integration.

1.5    During the initial period of their university studies, prospective Semmelweis University students become familiar with the University regulations applicable to them, with support from university staff.

1.6   During the initial period of their university studies, prospective Semmelweis University students become familiar with and apply the Academic and Examination Regulations, with support from university staff.

2. sub-policy: High-Quality, Coherent University Academic Programs

2.1.     We offer students degree programs grounded in disciplinary excellence, providing insight into the most important and most recent developments in the sciences while also enabling them to acquire the abilities and skills required for practical application. A comprehensive talent development program is available to support outstanding students.

2.2.     Semmelweis University’s academic programs are well organized, with foundational and discipline-specific subjects aligned in a coherent manner. This ensures that interconnections, progression pathways and choices are clear and logical, thereby supporting students in the successful completion of their chosen faculty and program.

2.3.     Individual subjects and courses are designed in a structured manner, thereby ensuring coherent alignment among learning objectives and outcomes, learning activities, and forms of assessment. A transparent and continuously evolving curriculum, responsive to labor market needs, supports the ongoing development of the programs.

3. sub-policy: A Motivating Teaching and Learning Environment

3.1.     Teaching engages students and provides opportunities for them to participate in relevant learning activities that enable them to master the curriculum and to develop both subject-specific and transferable skills and competencies.

3.2.     Through teaching and academic supervision, the University creates a supportive environment that fosters students’ learning and learning processes throughout their studies.

3.3     The physical, psychological, aesthetic, and digital frameworks surrounding university education and learning processes support learning. In addition, they make a significant contribution to university and social integration, student engagement and well-being.

4. sub-policy: Highly Qualified Graduates with Relevant Competencies 

4.1.    During their studies, students acquire knowledge that, in addition to scientific and practice-oriented competencies, also meets the needs of society.

4.2.    The academic programs provide students with opportunities to establish connections with the labor market so that they may apply their disciplinary knowledge in relevant professional contexts and build relationships and networks with potential employers.

4.3.    Semmelweis University aims to ensure the relevance of its programs through continuous engagement with the employers of its graduates.
 

Semmelweis University’s MEES-Based Quality Policy (Sectoral Policy)

Semmelweis University, in accordance with the requirements of the Hungarian Healthcare Standards (MEES 2), sets out its quality policy, thereby expressing its commitment to promoting a healthy and health-conscious lifestyle, preserving health and ensuring the proper diagnosis, effective, safe and efficient care, treatment and rehabilitation of patients. In doing so, the University takes into account patients’ preferences and the capacities available.

In the provision of healthcare, quality improvement activities are organized in accordance with the PDCA approach, within the framework of which:

In the planning phase of organizing our healthcare activities, we take into consideration social and professional expectations and prevailing trends. On this basis, we design the structure, processes, and practice of patient care, relying on scientific evidence in doing so.

• We strive to organize healthcare delivery in an optimal manner; unnecessary, insufficiently effective or inefficient elements of the care portfolio are restructured in line with the evidence. In planning, we take into account any possibilities for applying evidence-based healthcare technologies. In designing processes, we consider known weaknesses, patient safety risks, and other risks, and we identify opportunities for their elimination. The necessary modifications are planned accordingly.
• We define, in discipline-specific terms, the expected level of performance, the objectives to be achieved, and the conditions required for achieving those objectives.

To ensure the proper implementation and continuous improvement of healthcare activities, we provide professional and technical support, as a result of which:

• we assess the risks associated with patient care and strive to eliminate them;
• care is delivered by well-prepared staff with appropriate professional expertise, in accordance with the relevant professional standards and regulations.

To ensure the proper delivery of patient care, the University operates a monitoring and control system within the framework of which it evaluates the extent to which objectives have been achieved:

• all employees carry out self-inspection in the course of their work;
• the direct professional supervisor reviews and evaluates the process at regular intervals;
• monitoring activities assess both the adequacy of work performance and the achievement of objectives;
• the opinions and feedback of patients and staff are collected, assessed, and taken into account.

Continuous improvement of patient care activities:

• Semmelweis University continuously improves its patient care processes, taking into account the results of its monitoring and control system; it identifies errors and problems, seeks to address them and implements measures to prevent their recurrence.
• The University is committed to the continuous enhancement of patient safety. ​

Semmelweis University’s Quality Policy for Postgraduate Specialist Training and postgraduate-level Continuing Education (Sectoral Policy)

In accordance with the requirements applicable to postgraduate specialist training and postgraduate-level continuing education, Semmelweis University sets out its quality policy, thereby expressing its commitment to a balanced and mutually reinforcing operation of research, education, learning and teaching.

1. sub-policy: Managing the Initial Phase of the Training and Continuing Education Process

1.1.    Semmelweis University operates educational frameworks that ensure the smooth integration of participants entering specialist training and continuing education into the process.

1.2.    Participants in specialist training are able to integrate successfully into the training process.

2. sub-policy:  High-Quality, Coherent Specialist Training and Continuing Education Programs

2.1.    In its specialist training and continuing education activities, the University offers programs grounded in disciplinary excellence, providing participants with insight into the most important and most recent developments in the sciences, while also enabling them to acquire the abilities and skills necessary for practical application.

2.2.    Semmelweis University’s training programs are well organized and thereby ensure that interrelationships, progression and available choices are clear and logical, thus supporting participants in specialist training and continuing education in the successful completion of their chosen program.

2.3.    Individual activities are planned in a structured manner, thereby ensuring coherent alignment among learning objectives and outcomes, learning activities and forms of assessment.

3. sub-policy: A Motivating Teaching and Learning Environment

3.1.    Specialist training and continuing education engage participants in relevant learning activities that enable them to master the curriculum and to develop both discipline-specific knowledge and transferable skills and competencies.

3.2.    Through specialist training, continuing education, and academic supervision, the University creates a supportive environment that fosters participants’ learning and learning processes throughout their studies.

3.3.    The physical, psychological, aesthetic and digital frameworks surrounding university teaching and learning processes support not only learning itself, but also university and social integration, engagement and well-being.

4. sub-policy: Highly Qualified Participants in Specialist Training and Continuing Education with Relevant Competencies

4.1.    During specialist training and continuing education, participants acquire knowledge that, in addition to scientific and practice-oriented competencies, also responds to the needs of society.

4.2.    The training provides participants with opportunities to establish connections with the labor market so that they may apply their subject-specific knowledge in relevant professional contexts and build relationships and networks with potential employers.

Semmelweis University’s WFME-Based Quality Policy (Sectoral Policy)

In accordance with the standards of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), Semmelweis University (SE) sets out its quality policy, thereby expressing its commitment to a balanced and mutually reinforcing operation of research, education, learning and teaching.

1. sub-policy: Managing the Beginning of Student Life

1.1.      Semmelweis University operates educational frameworks designed to ensure that well-prepared and motivated students are admitted to the medical program, thereby safeguarding the quality of education and meeting the high societal expectations placed on the medical profession.

1.2.      Prospective Semmelweis University students are able to make a well-considered decision in selecting our Faculty of Medicine, being aware of its expectations already at the time of application.

At the beginning of their studies, the curriculum is clear to students, and they are familiar with the University-level regulations governing academic requirements and examinations.

1.3.      Students are able to integrate into the inspiring, inclusive, and supportive academic and social community of the Faculty of Medicine. The Students’ Union plays an active role in supporting this process.

1.4.      During the first year of university education, students begin to develop a sense of vocation and commitment to the medical profession.

2. sub-policy: High-Quality, Coherent University Academic Programs

2.1.      We offer students a degree program in medicine grounded in disciplinary excellence, providing them with insight into the most important and most recent scientific developments, while also enabling them to acquire the abilities and skills necessary for clinical application in practice.

2.2.      Semmelweis University’s medical education program is well organized and thereby ensures that interrelationships, progression, and available choices are clear and logical, thus supporting students in the successful completion of the medical program they have chosen.

2.3.      Individual subjects and courses are designed in a structured manner, thereby ensuring coherent alignment among learning objectives and outcomes, learning activities, and forms of assessment.

3. sub-policy: A Motivating Teaching and Learning Environment

3.1.      Medical education engages students in relevant learning activities that enable them to master the curriculum and to develop both subject-specific and transferable skills and competencies.

3.2.      Through teaching and academic supervision, the University creates a supportive environment that fosters students’ learning and their learning processes throughout their studies. The University also provides students with opportunities to engage in research through participation in the Scientific Students’ Associations.

3.3.      The physical, psychological, aesthetic, and digital frameworks surrounding university medical education and learning processes support not only learning itself, but also university and social integration, engagement, well-being, and the preservation of students’ physical and mental health.

4. sub-policy: Highly Qualified Graduates with Relevant Competencies

4.1.      During their studies, students acquire knowledge that, in addition to scientific and practice-oriented competencies, also responds to the societal expectations placed on physicians.

4.2.      The program provides students with opportunities to establish connections with the labor market so that they may apply their subject-specific knowledge in relevant professional medical contexts and build relationships and networks with potential employers.

4.3.      Semmelweis University aims to ensure the relevance of its programs through continuous engagement with the employers of its graduates.