Neonatal Online Training & Education

Background

The NOTE Faculty are pleased to offer a new international online Masters (M) level educational programme in neonatal medicine. As part of a collaboration between the Euopean School of Neonatology (ESN) and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton successful participants have the option of receiving academic credit at Masters (M) level. The aim of the programme is to provide high quality postgraduate neonatal education within a unique global Neonatal Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

The Programme

Experience of online learning is not essential as there will be an induction module for all participants. Irrespective of the route of access, each module will be delivered in English over a period of approximately 10 weeks. The total study time for each module is 200 hours of which up to 50 hours will be online contact; the remaining 200 hours is self directed study. Each module has predefined learning outcomes and a range of multimedia will be used to enhance the teaching and learning. Participants will work in small learning groups with supervision and support from 2 online tutors. Synchronous and asynchronous online communication will promote collaborative discussion and debate of authentic clinical cases. Summative assessment is integrated throughout each module and will take the form of MCQ questions, evaluation of online participation and a written assignment.

Academic Credit or Continuing Professional Development

We have two ways in which it is possible to access the programme:

1. Masters-Level Academically Accredited Option

Participants who opt for this route will be eligible for academic accreditation, at Masters level, by the University of Southampton. If sufficient modules are successfully completed it will be possible to progress to a full MSc degree. The neonatal clinical modules have been commissioned and developed by the ESPR Specialist Sections and the research and evidence based practice modules have been developed by the University of Southampton.

Modules currently available include:

• Neonatal Haemodynamics, Neonatal Pulmonology, Neonatal Infection, Inflammation, Immunology, and Immunisation, Neonatal Nutrition, Neonatal Neurology, and Neonatal Clinical Pharmacology. 
• Applying Evidence in Health and Social Care (Research Methods) 
• Work Based Learning 

Possible exit awards are:

• A Postgraduate Certificate in Neonatology (3 modules including the Research Methods module)
• A Postgraduate Diploma in Neonatology (6 modules including the Research Methods module)
• The full MSc, which includes the Diploma and a dissertation module

Currently students who are undertaking these modules include doctors training in neonatology, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNPs) and neonatologists from the UK, Europe and around the world.

Typical entry requirements include:

• A first degree (2:2 class or above) or equivalent in a relevant subject from an approved institution of higher education.
• A current professional registration with a relevant professional/statutory body.
• A current job contract in a clinical or clinically related area.
• Two years neonatal clinical experience.
• At least one satisfactory professional or academic reference 

2. NOTE CPD Option

The second option is for experienced clinicians who wish to participate in the neonatal postgraduate clinical modules as part of CPD. This route involves studying the same online clinical neonatal modules alongside the students taking the academically-accredited route however, there is no group work, assessment or academic accreditation. On successful completion of each module a certificate will be awarded by the ESN and the NOTE Faculty. 

Eligibility for the CPD route includes:

• A current professional registration with a relevant professional/statutory body.
• A current job contract in a clinical or clinically related area.
• At least two years neonatal clinical experience.

Applications

If you're interested in applying for either the MSc Neonatology or the CPD option then please contact the Programme Lead -j.king@soton.ac.uk and we'll get back to you.