Why foreign medical students seek abroad elective experience in Japan: The German case

Abstract

International medical electives are a central component of the academic curriculum in many medical schools and universities worldwide (Storz, 2022). As short-term clinical immersion experiences, abroad electives are essential in connecting medical faculties and academic hospitals around the globe. They foster cross-cultural exchange, medical skill training, as well as professional identity formation (Imafuku et al., 2021; Storz, 2022). From a global health perspective, abroad electives provide medical students with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of healthcare and medical education in an international context.