Research Archivi - HealthCareMaster HealthCareMaster

INSIDE THE MASTER: TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTHCARE

December 5, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In the social and healthcare sector, training is not simply a regulatory requirement or a periodic update: it is a strategic tool that enables organisations to grow, innovate, and ensure high-quality care. Designing effective training pathways requires a structured approach capable of connecting real needs, professional competencies, and organisational goals.

Within the Master’s Programme in “Training Strategies in the Social and Healthcare Sector: European Standards and Innovation”, the analysis of training needs and the development of competencies represents a fundamental pillar of the curriculum. Dedicated modules explore how to accurately identify areas for improvement, evaluate the impact of training, and guide professionals toward the acquisition of technical, relational, and organisational skills that can be effectively applied in practice.

A key component of the programme is the shift from knowledge-based training to a competency-based approach: knowing how to act, how to collaborate, how to communicate. In an increasingly complex healthcare environment, where multidisciplinary teams work under pressure and in constant evolution, soft skills are no longer optional but essential. Teamwork, effective communication, group management, and the ability to navigate difficult situations are all elements that directly contribute to safety, care quality, and organisational wellbeing.

Beyond theoretical frameworks, students engage with practical tools to assess training effectiveness and evaluate its real impact on processes and organisational performance. The goal is to promote a culture of continuous learning that goes beyond content delivery and instead generates value, skills, and professional development.

This perspective, embedded across all Healthcare Master’s Programmes, aims to train professionals capable of designing, leading, and evaluating training within social and healthcare services—turning education into a true driver of change.

PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION IN THE SOCIO-HEALTHCARE SECTOR

December 4, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

Safeguarding privacy in the socio-healthcare sector is today one of the most delicate and complex challenges for professionals involved in service management, patient care, and continuity of assistance between hospital and community settings. The growing digitalization of processes has brought new opportunities, but also new responsibilities.

In this context, data protection means above all ensuring dignity, trust, and safety for the people receiving care. Health data is among the most sensitive categories of information and requires advanced competencies in governance, access protocols, security measures, and risk assessment. This approach concerns all professionals: managers, coordinators, healthcare workers, social workers, and anyone who handles information related to a person’s health and well-being. Privacy protection thus becomes a cultural element before a technical one.

A crucial—often underestimated—aspect concerns communication. Privacy in the socio-healthcare sector is not only about technology and regulations: it also involves managing relationships, handling information shared within multidisciplinary teams, and understanding the boundary between what must be communicated to ensure care continuity and what must instead remain protected. The most important competency becomes, therefore, professional awareness: the ability to recognize risks, apply correct procedures, and understand the impact of one’s decisions on the lives of those receiving care.

The topic of data protection is addressed across all Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma. Through lectures, case studies, and practical exercises, students develop the skills needed to effectively manage privacy, data security, and information governance within healthcare and socio-healthcare services.

INSIDE THE MASTER’S PROGRAMME: NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

November 29, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In the field of health and social care services—and particularly in contexts dedicated to the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections—the ability to manage complex relationships is just as important as technical and scientific expertise. For this reason, within the Second-Level Master’s Programme in Management/Coordination of Services for Infection Risk Related to Healthcare, a dedicated lesson focused on a crucial topic: negotiation as a tool to face and transform conflict.

The session began with an analysis of identity dynamics within professional groups: the sense of belonging, the emotional significance attributed to one’s role, and the way individuals define themselves as part of a group all profoundly affect attitudes, communication, and behaviours in healthcare organisations. When different identities come into contact—or into conflict—various individual and collective strategies can emerge: from psychological or physical withdrawal, to disidentification from the group, and even attempts to redefine or transform one’s professional identity.

The lesson highlighted how conflict, far from being something to avoid, can represent a powerful driver of growth and innovation. Minority groups, through the coherence of their positions and their capacity for constructive dialogue, can influence majorities and contribute to meaningful organisational change.
Participants were encouraged to view conflict not as an insurmountable divide but as a space where interests, values, and emotions can be explored in a constructive way.

Through examples, exercises, and real case studies, the role of negotiation was examined as a communicative process aimed at finding shared solutions. Observing, listening, and understanding the needs and interests—both one’s own and those of others—are essential steps in transforming confrontation into collaboration. In infection-risk management, where diverse professionals work under pressure and with significant responsibilities, this competence becomes fundamental to coordinating teams, aligning objectives, and supporting effective decision-making.

This lesson forms part of the broader curriculum of the Master’s Programme, which dedicates substantial attention to organisational and relational dynamics. The programme recognises that the quality of health and social care services relies not only on technical skills, but also on the ability to cooperate, negotiate, and lead change.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE HEALTHCARE MASTER’S PROGRAMMES

November 27, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In today’s context, the challenges faced by the health and social care system make scientific research more essential than ever. Providing care is not enough: analytical and methodological skills are needed to generate evidence, evaluate practices, improve processes, and ensure the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services. In this sense, research is the driving force that fuels innovation and enables health and social care professions to evolve continuously, adapting to emerging needs and high quality standards.

The Healthcare Master’s Programmes of the University of Parma respond to this need by requiring not only theoretical study but also a strong practical commitment to research. Thanks to this approach, participants develop not only technical skills but also critical and reflective thinking—fundamental for interpreting data, considering ethical variables, integrating into multidisciplinary teams and applying results in clinical and organizational practice.

In a rapidly evolving health and social care landscape, research is the common thread that links education, clinical practice and innovation. For this reason, every Healthcare Master’s Programme includes dedicated teaching on research, as well as practical exercises and Project Work. Only in this way is it possible to train professionals capable not only of delivering care, but also of actively contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the health and social care field, promoting real and sustainable improvements.

INSIDE THE MASTER: FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

November 20, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

The transition toward an increasingly community-based healthcare system requires new models of relationships, participation, and co-responsibility. Within the training program of the Master’s in Family and Community Nursing and Integrated Care for Collective Health, significant attention is dedicated to the themes shaping the evolution of territorial healthcare. Among these, one of the lessons explored the role of family and community engagement as a key element for more participatory, effective, and person-centred care.

The focus was on the competencies of family and community nurses in facilitating participatory processes, supporting individuals in the conscious management of their health conditions, and promoting collaborative relationships among professionals, caregivers, local institutions, and community organizations. A strong emphasis emerged on shifting from “taking charge of the individual” to “taking charge of life contexts,” through interventions that integrate health education, family empowerment, wellbeing promotion, and the activation of community resources. Special attention was given to the co-design of care pathways, inclusive communication, and digital tools that enable active involvement of people.

The lesson offered participants a space for discussion enriched by real-life cases, innovative territorial experiences, and practical methodologies, reaffirming the role of family and community nursing as a pillar of future healthcare: a system that listens, connects, and creates value together with people.

THE COMMITMENT OF HEALTHCARE MASTER’S PROGRAMS TO WELCOMING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS

November 14, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In advanced training pathways, the quality of content is fundamental, but even more crucial is the way students are supported throughout their journey. In the Healthcare Master’s programs at the University of Parma, student-centeredness is a guiding principle – an active commitment expressed through attentive listening, ongoing support, and a constant presence.

To help prospective students make informed choices and provide all the necessary information about the training offer, informational seminars are organized for professionals and prospective candidates interested in learning about the structure, objectives, opportunities, and unique features of each Master’s program. These sessions serve as valuable moments of direct engagement, where participants can ask questions, address uncertainties, and explore the most relevant aspects of the educational pathway.

Once the Master’s program begins, student support continues through a dedicated and consistently available figure: the academic tutor. Each Master’s program includes a tutor who accompanies participants throughout the entire pathway. The tutor serves as a constant point of reference, fostering a positive, collaborative, and growth-oriented environment. The goal is to create a learning setting where no one feels alone, where the educational relationship values experience and promotes autonomy, without losing the human component that gives meaning to every learning journey.

The Healthcare Master’s programs thus reaffirm a training model based on quality, closeness, and care where expertise is cultivated through a direct and continuous relationship among students, tutors, and faculty. It is a commitment that makes a difference and supports every professional in building their future.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE NURSING ROLE: NEW SKILLS FOR A CHANGING HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SYSTEM

November 13, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In recent years, the health and social care system has undergone a profound transformation, driven by demographic, technological, and organizational changes that have redefined health needs and the ways in which care is delivered. In this context, the role of the nurse has become increasingly central, with a significant expansion of clinical, organizational, and interpersonal competencies.

Today, nurses are professionals capable of managing complex situations, making autonomous decisions, and working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. Their work is no longer limited to technical execution but extends to needs assessment, care planning and coordination, health promotion, and disease prevention.

This expansion of skills responds to concrete challenges: the increase in chronic diseases, population aging, the growing demand for community and home-based care, the digitalization of healthcare processes, and the need to ensure safety, quality, and continuity of services. The nurse thus becomes a bridge between individuals, families, communities, and healthcare institutions.

Among the areas where these competencies find the greatest expression are chronic disease management, infection risk prevention, palliative care, community health, therapeutic education, and the training of healthcare professionals. In these fields, scientific expertise, leadership ability, and a systemic vision are essential elements.

From this perspective, the Healthcare Master’s programs at the University of Parma represent an outstanding educational platform for nurses who wish to strengthen their skills and contribute to the innovation of care models. Investing in nursing education means building a more efficient, humane, and people-centered health and social care system — one in which the nurse, equipped with advanced competencies, becomes a key agent of change and a promoter of a culture of care based on quality, equity, and innovation.

INTERNATIONALIZATION AND GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION

November 7, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In an increasingly interconnected world, healthcare education must take on a truly global dimension. The challenges of modern health require professionals who can act with competence, cultural sensitivity, and an international outlook.

Academic mobility and cooperation among universities from different countries are strategic tools for building a global health community grounded in equity, solidarity, and innovation. Taking part in joint research projects or internships abroad means broadening one’s horizons, engaging with diverse organizational models, and learning to navigate the complexity of global social and healthcare contexts.

Today, international networks in healthcare education foster not only the sharing of technical knowledge but also the development of intercultural soft skills—essential for ensuring person-centered and diversity-respectful care. Global health education thus promotes a new kind of professional: one capable of integrating scientific knowledge with social awareness, leadership with collaboration, and local responsibility with a planetary vision.

From this perspective, the Healthcare Master’s programs at the University of Parma represent an educational model fully integrated into the international landscape. Through academic partnerships, university cooperation projects, visiting professors, and English-taught courses, the Master’s programs offer participants the opportunity to experience genuinely global learning.

Studying in the Healthcare Master’s programs therefore means becoming part of a network of professionals, institutions, and educators who believe in health as a universal good—building, day by day, a culture of care that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

INPS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HEALTHCARE MASTER’S PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PARMA: APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 18, 2025

November 3, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

The INPS “Executive University Master’s Degrees A.Y. 2025/2026” call for applications is now online, offering scholarships at the national level.

The Healthcare Master’s programs at the University of Parma are among the eligible courses, providing public sector employees with an important opportunity to pursue postgraduate education with dedicated financial support. The call is open to employees of the Public Administration enrolled in the Unified Management of Credit and Social Benefits scheme. Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the INPS platform by 12:00 p.m. on November 18, 2025. INPS will publish the national ranking list on December 19, 2025.

Enrollment in the Healthcare Master’s programs will remain open until 12:00 p.m. on January 30, 2026.
For all details and to access the full text of the INPS call for applications, please visit the following link.

This is a valuable opportunity to invest in your professional development and access high-quality educational programs that combine innovation, research, and skills advancement in the healthcare sector.

TRAINING, COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONALIZATION: THE UNIVERSITY OF PARMA IN A CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD

October 29, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

A major curriculum development project has recently concluded at the Catholic University of Rwanda and the Institute of Applied Technology INES Ruhengeri, with the University of Parma playing a leading role through CUCI – the University Centre for International Cooperation – and its Healthcare Master’s programs. The initiative, which lasted two weeks (one week at each institution), was part of the academic cooperation activities promoted by CUCI and represented a significant step forward in building shared educational pathways and promoting the quality of nursing education at the international level.

The project involved students, faculty, and administrative staff from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Catholic University of Rwanda in activities of professional development and joint curriculum design for the courses in Medical Surgical Nursing, Health Measurements, and Nursing Research. The training sessions, led by Professor Antonio Bonacaro and Dr. Mauro Parozzi, fostered an intense exchange of experiences, teaching methodologies, and cultural perspectives, laying the foundation for long-term collaboration between the two institutions.

The initiative is part of the broader framework of the ACHIEVE-IT and UNITAFRICA international programs, supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) through the Next Generation EU initiative. These programs aim to build bridges of knowledge between European and African universities. Their shared goal is to make higher education a space of equity, innovation, and global responsibility.

The project in Rwanda highlighted how international health education can serve as a tool for mutual growth, combining academic expertise, social commitment, and intercultural sensitivity. The enthusiasm of students, the collaboration of colleagues, and the warm hospitality received made this experience a shining example of how university cooperation can translate into sustainable development and enhancement of local human capital.

As Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Head of the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma, emphasized: “This experience shows that academic cooperation is not just an exchange of knowledge, but a meeting of people, cultures, and visions. Building international educational pathways together means contributing to the growth of a more equitable, competent, and humane global healthcare system”.

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