Faculty and Students of the TNMU Institute of Nursing Successfully Completed an Erasmus+ Program on Breastfeeding Support in Vienna

I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University actively participates in international educational projects supported by the Erasmus+ program.

From February 25 to May 9, 2025, students and faculty of TNMU’s Educational and Research Institute of Nursing took part in the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) “Breastfeeding and Early Interaction: Basics and Beyond,” alongside participants from Finland, Estonia, Austria, and Belgium.

The BIP aimed to enhance professional competencies in nursing, particularly in the areas of breastfeeding support and early mother-infant interaction. Participants had the opportunity to:

Master modern approaches to supporting breastfeeding;

Study evidence-based methods for promoting breastfeeding based on international best practices;

Learn about the organization of the educational process and the integration of innovative methods into subjects related to lactation consulting;

Exchange experiences with international colleagues and establish professional contacts for future collaboration.

The program had a hybrid format:

Offline phase (May 5 – 9, 2025) in Vienna, Austria: The in-person sessions included simulations that enabled students to practice and explore complex breastfeeding-related topics.

Online phase (Feb 25 – May 2, 2025): Students studied the theoretical aspects of breastfeeding and early interaction using the Moodle platform of the Tallinn Health Care College. Faculty members contributed by developing course content, including lectures, quizzes, and workshops.

The Ukrainian team was represented by:

Anna Melymyka, Kateryna Sapyla, Olesia Holodnikova, Valeriia Kononska, and Anastasiia Kolesnyk (second-year students of the Institute of Nursing).

Yuliia Danylevych and Yuliia Kotsaba (Department of Advanced Nursing Education, Patient Care, and Clinical Immunology),

The week in Vienna included simulation training, visits to the human milk bank and an outpatient breastfeeding support center, interactive workshops, lectures, and cultural events.

Participation in the program allowed the TNMU team to significantly enhance their knowledge and practical skills in breastfeeding support. It provided exposure to modern European approaches, clinical protocols, and innovative teaching methods actively used in the training of healthcare professionals abroad.

Additionally, the program contributed to the expansion of international cooperation, opening opportunities for further collaboration and experience exchange—especially valuable for integrating Ukrainian medical education into the European Higher Education Area.

The experience gained will be implemented into the nursing curricula at TNMU, helping to train high-level professionals.