Guidelines for the implementation and assessment of supervised practical training at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MH).

Norsk versjon: Retningslinjer for gjennomføring og vurdering av praksisstudier - MH

National guidelines for the various education programmes and the Public Administration Act's general rules on administrative proceedings apply.

Chapter 1: General

These guidelines cover all bachelor's, further and master's degree programmes and the medical programme with supervised practical training at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU.

The learning outcomes, content, scope and requirements of the relevant courses are described in more detail in the study plan of the programme, or in a separate booklet or handbook.

As a general rule, pass/fail is used as the grading system for practical training.

If the practical training is carried out as a compulsory assignment, it will be assessed as approved/not approved.

A student cannot begin a new period of practical training until the previous periods of practical training have been completed with a pass or approved result, unless otherwise stated in the study plan of the programme. According to the Academic Regulations of NTNU, Section 5-10 (2), a student has access to one new period of practical training if the first period is assessed as failed or not approved.

As a general rule, compulsory activities in a course should be approved prior to the start of the period of practical training. If compulsory activities take place simultaneously as the practical studies, an overall assessment will be made as to whether the course can be assessed as passed/failed. If the course has compulsory activities that must be approved before the final assessment, deadlines for approval must be set well in advance of the deadline for notification of a possible failing grade, see Chapter 4.

The ongoing assessment of suitability should take place throughout the entire period of study, see the Universities and University Colleges Act, Section 12-3 and the Regulations of the Universities and University Colleges Act, Chapter 7 Assessment of suitability.

Chapter 2: Rules related to workplace/place of practical training

During practical training, the student should comply with the ordinary norms and rules that apply to working life. If the place of practical training has its own staff regulations, the student should follow these. Students in practical training are subject to the provisions of the Occupational Injuries Insurance Act and the Compensation for Injury Act and the Working Environment Act. Students are also covered by the National Insurance Act's rules on occupational injuries.

As a general rule, the student follows the supervisor's schedule/working hours or the schedule/working hours prepared by the place of practical training. Deviations from the agreed schedule/working hours must be agreed with the supervisor(s) and NTNU's representative. Study days must be distributed evenly throughout the entire period of practical training and cannot be accumulated.

The student is subject to the duty of confidentiality set out in relevant laws and regulations. The student must be made aware of the provisions on confidentiality and the pledge of confidentiality, in accordance with the Universities and University Colleges Act, Section 12-7.

NTNU is not responsible if the student causes damage to material at the place of practical training. To protect themselves against possible liability if damage occurs, the student should, as a main principle, refrain from using a car or other material that belongs to an employee or patient/user/student/fellow student at the place of practical training. If such use is required by the place of practical training, the student may demand clarification of responsibilities before the start of the practical training

The student must submit a self-declaration for tuberculosis/MRSA, a confidentiality agreement and a police certificate without any remarks at the start of the study.

Chapter 3: Absence

Practical training is based on compulsory participation, cf. the Academic Regulations on Studies at NTNU, Chapter 5.

A maximum of 10% absence can be approved. Absences between 11% and 20% that are documented with a medical certificate can be made up by extending the period of practical training, subject to application and agreement between the place of practical training and NTNU. Absence exceeding 20% means that the student needs to complete the entire period of practical training again.

Chapter: 4 Procedure for possible failing grade in practical training

If the student's progression is lower than expected, it is important that the student is notified as early as possible of the risk of receiving a failing grade in the practical training.

The student must be notified of a possible failing grade at least three weeks before the date of the final assessment, i.e. at least 15 working days. Holidays should not be counted. The reason for the notification is that the student should have the opportunity to improve and achieve the result "pass".

The notification is normally given in a meeting with the student, NTNU's representative and the representative at the place of practical training, for example in connection with the mid-term assessment. The meeting considers the basis for a possible failing grade and describes what improvements are needed for the student to receive a passing grade.

The student should receive information about the following in the meeting:

• notice that the student is at risk of a possible failing grade in the practical training
• the basis of this assessment in relation to the learning outcomes of the course and/or the guidelines for the implementation and assessment of practical studies
• clarification of what the student must continue to work on in order to pass the practical training
• what follow-up is planned for the student by NTNU
• date for the next meeting and final assessment

The student confirms to have been notified on a possible failing grade in the practical training by signing the study programme's assessment documents or a separate letter summarising the points from the meeting. The student should receive a copy of the signed assessment document or a letter at the end of the meeting. If this is not possible (for example when the meeting has a digital format), a copy will be sent to the student via digipost.

A copy of the assessment document/letter is sent to the supervisor of practical training, the document archive and, if applicable, the academic programme director.

If at the end of the period of practical training the student shows actions / behaviour that may endanger patient safety and that clearly do not qualify for a passing grade, the student may still receive the grade "fail", even without earlier notification.

Chapter 5: Decision on failing grade in practical training

If the student is given a failing grade in the final assessment, the justification for this must be stated in the assessment documents or a written decision must be prepared after the final assessment has been completed.

The documents must be signed by both examiners and the student, and a copy sent to the student via digipost. The student must be offered follow-up guidance and receive information about the right to appeal.

The examiners (teacher and supervisor at the place of practical training) must jointly agree on the grade to be given. If, exceptionally, it is not possible to reach an agreement, an external examiner decides which grade to give, cf. the Academic Regulations at NTNU, Section 5-14 (9).

Chapter 6: Complaints

The assessment of practical training cannot be appealed, cf. the Universities and University Colleges Act, Section 11-10.

The student has the right to appeal against formal errors in connection with a failing grade, cf. the Universities and University Colleges Act, Section 11-9. If the practical training is carried out as compulsory activity, it is not possible to appeal against formal errors.

Complaints about formal errors are sent to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences for processing.

Approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences 21.06.2017. Revised 10.06.2024.