The main objective of the Neuro(de)cision project was to support medical students in making informed, reflective decisions about pursuing a neurosurgery residency. As outlined in the grant, the project aimed to address the lack of structured exposure to neurosurgery, ethical reasoning, and self-assessment in undergraduate medical education. By developing and piloting an innovative, blended training programme, the project sought to enhance students’ understanding of the clinical, technical, and emotional demands of the neurosurgical profession. Specific goals included fostering interdisciplinary learning through medical humanities, improving ethical and professional awareness, and promoting self-reflection through digital and hands-on experiences. Additionally, the project aimed to increase international cooperation in medical education, create scalable learning resources, and contribute to more inclusive and sustainable training pathways across Europe. The project also aimed to strengthen links between universities and clinical institutions, enhance student engagement through innovative teaching methods, and promote gender balance and accessibility in neurosurgical training.
The Neuro(de)cision project was developed in response to the growing need for structured, interdisciplinary support for medical students considering a career in neurosurgery. As detailed in the submitted application, students across partner countries often face limited exposure to neurosurgical practice during their undergraduate studies and lack access to ethical, humanistic, and decision-making training relevant to this demanding specialty. The project aimed to address these gaps by designing an innovative, blended training program combining medical humanities, ethics, and digital learning tools with clinical neurosurgery content. By engaging academic institutions and clinical centres across Italy, Germany, Serbia, and Portugal, the project created a shared educational model that supports informed, reflective decision-making among students. The initiative also responds to the broader European need for high-quality, inclusive, and sustainable medical education pathways. The project also aimed to promote equality, accessibility, and early professional orientation, fostering a more diverse and better-prepared next generation of neurosurgical professionals in Europe.