The West Country Doctor October 2025
As part of regular updates on the work on adapting the medical study to a regional study model (project Vestlandslegen), here is an update for October 2025.
Previous information letters can be found here: Informasjonsskriv om prosjekt Vestlandslegen | Vestlandslegen | UiB
Changes in project organization – including new professional groups
After the allocation of study places in medicine to UiB/campus Haugesund, the faculty has entered a new phase of the Vestlandslegen project, with parallel work on a total of four campuses. From the end of September, Gottfried Greve took office as the new project manager, and the faculty management is now considering further adjustments to the project organization. It is relevant to restructure the steering group and the project groups to ensure orderly dialogue with all partners and handle increasing complexity in the organization of the medical study.
Two large professional groups in surgical and internal medicine are now being established to ensure coordination between the various specialties from the start of clinical teaching in the 5th semester and on to regional campuses from the 7th semester. A kick-off for work with the groups was two digital meetings (October 29 and 30) to which relevant subject managers and professional resource persons on all four campuses were invited.
The meetings will be followed up with a joint gathering on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 in Bergen. Invitations to the gathering will be sent out soon.
Arbeidet med en flercampusmodell for medisinstudiet
On 10 September, the faculty sent out proposals for a framework for a multi-campus model for consultation, with 1 October as the main deadline for consultation input. In the programme committee for medicine on 22 October (case 25/25), the framework for the first five semesters of the multi-campus model was adopted.
The feedback from the collaborating hospitals, with a deadline of 1 November, will then form the basis for processing the framework for the remaining semesters – semesters 6-12. The programme committee will discuss this matter at its upcoming meeting on 26 November. The course descriptions for semesters 1, 3 and 5 will also be adopted at the same meeting. Even if the framework for all semesters is adopted, there is still a lot of work to be done to develop and detail the
Academic collaboration. Semester boards and academic groups will have a major responsibility for further follow-up, and it is crucial to have involvement from all four campuses.
We thank our partners for the many good inputs they provided during the consultation round, and encourage continued broad engagement in the ongoing process.
Increased practice in the Bergen region
A report from a working group initiated by the Joint Education Council between HUS, HDS and UiB-MED was presented to the council at its meeting on 26 September – item 12-25. The group has made suggestions and recommendations on how the Bergen campus can achieve sufficient capacity and quality in a situation with a significant increase in students who will have internships in Bergen. HUS plans to formally embed the report in the company during the autumn.
The increase in internship students in Bergen will start from the fall of 2026 for MED7, continue for MED8 in the spring of 2027 and finally for MED9 from the fall of 2027.
Collaboration in Førde
The first cohort of students who were admitted to the Bergen/Førde study programme this autumn went on a study trip to Førde on 30 – 31 October. During the trip, the students were introduced to the work and study environment in Førde. Both employees of Helse Førde, and students from UiB and HVL, presented the various fields of study and learning areas. They spoke about the close cooperation that characterizes everyday study and work life in Førde, and which the cohort will experience when they move there in the autumn of 2028. The students were also introduced to Sunnfjord municipality, and were able to see parts of the outdoor and cultural activities the municipality has to offer.
Collaboration in Haugesund
Following the allocation of 20 study places through next year's state budget, preparations are in full swing to welcome full-time medical students in Haugesund from autumn 2029. Helse Fonna has set up a project organization with sub-projects within subjects and academic/pedagogical competence, respectively, and for practical facilitation for students and employees. The faculty is following up with the establishment of a reference/working group to plan the project in close dialogue between the departments, the company and the municipal health service. Piloting in Stavanger
In Stavanger, the move to a new hospital is approaching; Nye SUS. The fact that the main campus is being moved from Våland to Ullandhaug affects everyday life for both employees and students. The first test of the clinical station exam (OSKE) will be held in Stavanger on December 4, and then the students in the 11th semester in Stavanger will participate in the same exam as students in Bergen. The first ordinary OSKE exam in Stavanger will be on Thursday, June 11, 2026 for the same cohort.
Best regrads,
- Marit Bakke | Dean
- Reidun Kjome – Vice Dean of Education