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The criteria for the prize are that it should stimulate and reward measures that promote increased internationalization in the studyÌýprograms. Transfer value to other academic environments and study programs is emphasized.

In their nomination, the Department of Clinical Medicine emphasizes the many high quality activities completed, the great student evaluations, the learning outcome on many levels, increased internationalization in the study programmes, the transfer value of the CCBIO-INTPART activities to other faculty departments, and the national attention to the programme, even on government level. You can read the Department of Clinical Medicine’s Ìý(in Norwegian).

In his introduction, Dean Per Bakke informed that the INTPART project was very well received in the Norwegian Research Council's midway evaluation of CCBIO, and by theirÌýsite visit in May. Both the Research Council and CCBIO's international advisory group have described the projectÌýas excellent and an example to followÌý- both nationally and internationally.

Elisabeth herself refers to this as a team effort.Ìý

–ÌýThis facultyÌýaward shows recognition of the work we have done inÌýthe CCBIO-INTPART programme.ÌýThis is a prize toÌýmanyÌýmore than myself, she emphasizes. –ÌýIt of course goes to Lars A. Akslen and Roger StrandÌýwho initiated the CCBIO INTPART program, and it goes to the CCBIO administration and many membersÌýfrom Lars Akslen's and Roger Strand'sÌýgroupsÌýwhoÌýhave been involved in the program activities,Ìýmaking them as great as they have become. No courses or seminars would have seen the light of day without the manyÌýcontributions from my colleagues! Also a big thanks you to all our distinguishedÌýcolleagues from the Vascular BiologyÌýProgram (VBP) whoÌýhaveÌýcontributed a lot to all programme activities, andÌýespecially to the Director of the Vascular Biology Program, Dr. Marsha Moses,Ìýwho also contributed herself with courses and seminars, and has been a solid supporterÌýinÌýthe CCBIO-INTPART program, she says.

Elisabeth has not yet decided what the award money is to be used for, but is very happy with the opportunity to finance moreÌýCCBIO-INTPART activities. A trip to Boston might be in question, to learn more about the teaching methods applied at Harvard MedicalÌýSchool, both in the Master and PhD programs. She also hopes to pinpoint strategic efforts to make the collaboration programme sustainable for the years to come.Ìý –ÌýCCBIO and the Faculty of medicine would greatly benefit fromÌýprolonging the collaboration beyond the time frame set in the INPART financing, which is till the end of 2020, she says.Ìý

– BeingÌýcoordinator for CCBIO-INTPART programme has been both challenging andÌýexciting, Elisabeth explains. – I think we have achieved a lot throughÌýthe program, such asÌýexcellent teaching for the students,ÌýgreatÌýdidactic examples for theÌýscientific staff, and the formation of importantÌýcontacts and networks. These are gains for CCBIO and other colleagues at our faculty alike. This has hadÌýimmediate effect, and will hopefully also be useful in aÌýlong-term perspective, she says.

Elisabeth's colleagues sometimes wonders how she gets the time and energy she seems to putÌýin all her activities. – When the day has a limited number of hours, IÌýsometimes seeÌýthatÌýthe hours spent planning and managing our INTPART activities could have been used for research time, she says. – Nevertheless, I am very happy for the involvement in the project, as it hasÌýstrengthened our ties to colleagues at the Vascular Biology Program,Ìýhopefully for many years to come, to the advantage for many researchers and studentsÌýat our faculty. Apart from that, I have also "uploaded" energyÌýfrom great studentÌýfeedback on the course activities - that is very rewarding for anÌýorganizer, she concludes.

The next step in the CCBIO-INTPART programme is a joint meeting on Iceland in August/September, and we look forward to what new ideas might emerge from there!

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