The Training and Mobility Plan stems from the need to establish teaching programmes which: 1) allow improving the degree of knowledge and skills of the members of the CIBER groups, in particular the younger ones; 2) include an approach to research from the different standpoints: clinical, basic and populational, and of knowledge transfer. Apart from this the Plan has to consider a specific aspect towards Continuous Training in order to improve professional skill, acting as a factor for change which enables the adaptation to future needs in the CIBER’s research work.
A plan of this type must take into account:
The Training Programme must also on one hand adapt to the real needs and circumstances of CIBER staff, of the lines and priorities of its research and of course adapt to the paces and requirements of the healthcare work done in the health system. As well as these general adaptations, the Programme also has to take into account the specific case of the special peculiarities of the Psychiatric area and of the basic research areas connected with this and present at the CIBER: this is the only way to cover its training needs.
Analysis of training requirements:
This competitiveness is determined, amongst other factors, by professionals’ degree of continuous training; traineeship in research activities is a key feature of this training and has a direct repercussion on the competitiveness and quality of the care given.
Objectives:
The CIBER Training Programme revolves around three main axes:
and this is founded on three principles:
In any event, the general objectives of the Plan must:
Identifying the target population:
The Training Programme of the CIBERSAM is intended for all the members of the groups belonging to this, in view of the need for continuous training being universal. The basic emphasis of the Programme is nevertheless quite understandably aimed at the younger members of the teams, where the work for completing their traineeship and training is more necessary and relevant.
Organisation of the activities:
The specific structure of the courses and stays as well as the priority criteria for financing and authorising these are given in sections 2 to 4, as well as in Appendices 1 and 2.
Indicators of fulfilment and progress:
These are given in section 5.
The Plan covers the range of training courses generated by the groups forming the CIBER for each year, following the guidelines mentioned in the previous paragraph. It is important to point out that the great majority of the groups have extensive experience in scientific training work:
Apart from this, priority will be given to the courses institutionally accredited either as part of Official Programmes of university postgraduate teaching, continuous training programmes of regional Healthcare Ministries or other official agencies.
The programme defines two major types of courses: the ones considered as priorities for training and the ones considered of interest. The courses considered to be priorities are in turn split into: training activities directly promoted or co-organised by the CIBERSAM itself; courses arranged by the members of the different groups and which are offered to the programme and courses outside the CIBER but considered to be of general interest for the objectives considered. The other group of courses may cover all the other teaching activities external to the CIBERSAM and which may be of interest for some of the groups in this. The Programme has to expressly establish the priority courses every year; as for the others, the Programme has to define the thematic areas of these. Appendix 1 gives the details of the courses.
The final culmination of a Training Programme of this kind has been the preparation of an official Programme for a Master in Research into Mental Health.
The Plan covers a programme of stays for researchers, updatable every six months, based on three objectives:
The stays carried out as part of this Programme last for at least 2-3 weeks and at most 3 months. The current range of stays is shown in Appendix 2.
Apart from the exchanges carried out in the range given below, the CIBER considers holding annual workshop-type meetings in order to set forth the progress in research done by the different groups, known as "Ideas Laboratory". These presentations, in accordance with a rotary selection process, will give priority to the exposition of specific innovative results, to be presented by the young researchers from each group, The idea is for these presentations to be useful for making the work done by different groups more dynamic, promoting the generation of further lines and cooperation. These meetings are incorporated, through their teaching value, in the priority course group (see Appendix 1).
The Master on Initiation in Research into Mental Health is an official and blended, partly classroom programme, arranged by research groups belonging to five Spanish universities (Universidad de Cantabria, Complutense de Madrid, Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona and Cádiz) which seeks to train researchers in mental health in both basic and clinical aspects, to increase innovation and translational research in psychiatry and neurosciences. The contents cover genetic, physiopathological and environmental factors of mental illnesses, conveyed in a very specialised way and considering from the formulation of hypotheses to the design of the studies, the most relevant statistical analysis for each health problem, the drafting of research procedures, their ethical implications and the publication of results.
The Master Programme (of 60 credits) is characterised by having a strong virtual component as well as by the compulsory nature of practical stays, in both clinical and basic areas. It is intended for five and four-year course graduates and diploma holders in medicine, psychology, biology, pharmacy, nursing, vocational therapy and biomedical sciences in general with an interest for mental health.
The Master is oriented towards initiation in research into mental health, which is why its main opening is the performance of the doctorate and research. Those qualified may join companies with a biotechnological base, pharmaceutical laboratories or biomedical research institutes, as well as public health systems. Completion of the doctorate opens the academic door to teaching in mental health, as well as the strictly research-based channel.
General information on the master course
The CIBER, at the proposal of the training head, will give the maximum possible publicity (web page, electronic mail) to the offers of courses and stays for each year, structure by semesters). The range given in Appendices 1 and 2 for 2010 stems from the proposals of the different groups. As a work method, the CIBER groups must send possible new proposals long enough in advance (1-2 months before the deadline for their publication). Based on all the above, the CIBER defines its range and annual strategy for courses and stays.
The budget of the CIBER assigned to training should be used to defray the expenses of the Training Plan, giving priority to the activities involved in the Master Course, in particular the enrolment expenses; secondly, the ones regarding enrolment, travel and stays resulting from attending other training courses, or the ones for stays at another unit within the Exchange and Stay programme. The CIBER will set criteria for priority and contribution to its training scheme and for budget distribution.
Aside from the Training budget, the groups involved in organising courses can offer the other groups in the CIBER incentives for participation, not only preference as regards acceptance at these, but also, as far as possible, total or partial exemptions from enrolment fees, attendance grants etc., to help to finance the expenses in this area.
