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Improving professional neonatal care in Europe and beyond

Welcome to the European School of Neonatology (ESN)

Learn about the ESN

The European School of Neonatology (ESN) represents the educational arm of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) in Neonatology. It is a nonprofit organisation that offers a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology, the NOTE Master of Science (MSc) in Neonatology (in collaboration with the University of Southampton), special courses and training, and the lecture series ‘Perspectives on Effective Neonatology’. The European School of Neonatology offerings equip medical professionals with the competencies needed to provide effective neonatal care.

ESN's Mission

The European School of Neonatology (ESN) equips medical professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills, competences, and attitudes required to practise high-quality neonatal medicine tailored to their local clinical setting. Taking into account principles of evidence-based medicine, ESN programming joins theory and practice so that medical professionals can effectively practise Neonatology at all levels of care.

Get to know the ETR in Neonatology and the ESN's Didactic Concept

ESN programming reflects the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology curriculum developed by the ESPR to support national training programmes in Neonatal Medicine, one of the Paediatric Specialist training programmes as defined by the Union Européenne des Medicins Specialistes (UEMS). The purpose of the ETR is to define the minimum requirements for training in Neonatology by adapting it to modern-day, clinical work patterns and administrative realities. The ESN puts the ETR Neonatology into practice at the European and global level using evidence based educational methods.

ESN MAS in Neonatology

The ESN Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology programme is part-time and online, with onsite components within local medical training or work. ESN ECTS credits can be earned by completing the modules and at other ESPR initiatives such as the NOTE MSc Programme or with external partners in addition to completion of ESN MAS programme modules.

The ESN MAS in Neonatology aims i) to teach all key competencies and cross cutting skills of the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology, ii) to train participants in theory and practice of infant and family centred developmental care (IFCDC), and iii) is constructed based on modern professional medical education involving Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and Transfer into Practice (TIP) tasks.

Credit requirements for the 60 ECTS Master of Advanced Studies in Neonatology

The modules

The modules are developed in collaboration with leading international experts from the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR). Each module comprises 3-7 ECTS credits:

Resuscitation and stabilisation
The very and extremely preterm infant
The moderate and late preterm infant
Cardiorespiratory failure
Life-threatening infection
Brain-injured newborn
Nutrition of the critically ill newborn
Surgical problems
Single system diseases
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Difficult care conference
Neonatal transport, patient flow management and transition of care
Infant and family centred developmental care

Publications on the ESN MAS in Neonatology

Lecture Series 'Perspectives on Effective Neonatology'

Join our 16-part lecture series that provides a glimpse of the MAS, which consists of recorded presentations followed by moderated expert discussions. Each lecture contributes 0.2 ECTS points towards the MAS and your participation in the entire series is free of charge. Your colleagues are warmly invited to join as well.

Special Courses and Training

This is a collection of collaborative training offers in Neonatology developed inside and outside of the ESPR. Each course contributes ECTS points towards the MAS.

• Advanced Cranial Ultrsound Tutorial – by Paul Govaert
• Breastfeeding & Human Milk for Neonatologists – Janet Prince & Johanna Sargeant
• Neonatal Resuscitation in Resource-Limited Settings – by Kunda Mutesu-Kapembwa & Vicent Gaertner
• Recording Basic Cranial Ultrasound Webinar – by ESPR EurUS.Brain Special Interest Group

Participate in the MAS in Neonatology

Admission criteria

Are you a paediatrician or in advanced training for paediatrics and interested in specialising in Neonatology? Are you fluent in the English language (IELTS score > 6.5 or a university degree taught in English)? Then the ESN teaching offers are the perfect fit for you!

Tuition

The tuition fee per ECTS point is EUR 140. Tuition for the complete ESN MAS is EUR 8’400. Dedicated study grants and scholarships will be made available to you to cover up to 100% of your fees.

Early bird special: The first 25 trainees registered in June and July 2024 will receive a scholarship for the first 2 modules.

Registrations opening in 2024

The first application round will take place in June and July 2024. Only 25 spaces will be available. Leave us your e-mail to receive regular updates on the ESN and its upcoming programme launch. Stay tuned for more!

MSc in Neonatology (NOTE)

The NOTE MSc in Neonatology has been offered since 2015 in collaboration with the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Its focus lies on the theoretical aspects of neonatal medicine. Each module will be delivered in English over a period of approximately 10 weeks. The total study time for each module is 250 hours of which up to 50 hours will be online contact; the remaining 200 hours is self directed study.

Possible exit awards are:

The modules

The modules are developed in collaboration with leading international experts from the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) and the University of Southampton.

• Neonatal Respiration
• Neonatal Nutrition
• Neonatal Neurology
• Neonatal Haemodynamics
• Neonatal Clinical Pharmacology
• Neonatal Infection, Inflammation, Immunology and Immunisation
• Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice (RMEBP)
• Open module (can be applied to & generated from clinical practice)
• Dissertation module

Participate in the MSc in Neonatology (NOTE)

Admission criteria

Currently students who are undertaking these modules include Paediatricians, Neonatologists and Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNPs) from many parts of the world.

Typical entry requirements include:

A first degree (2:2 class or above) or equivalent in a relevant subject from an approved institution of higher education.
A current professional registration with a relevant professional/statutory body.
A current job contract in a clinical or clinically related area.
At least two years neonatal clinical experience.
At least one satisfactory professional or academic reference

Tuition

Dedicated scholarships and bursaries are available upon application to cover the fee for the dissertation module. For more info on the fees, please contact the NOTE Programme Lead, Susan Smith (sls1@soton.ac.uk).

How to apply

If you’re interested in applying for the MSc Neonatology, then please contact the NOTE Programme Lead, Susan Smith (sls1@soton.ac.uk) and we’ll get back to you.

For more info on the NOTE MSc in Neonatology, please click the button below.

Become a partner

About the ESPR

The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) has been at the forefront of Paediatric medical care and innovation since 1958. As one of the oldest and most prolific Paediatric research societies in Europe, the ESPR co-organises annual conferences, supports investigators with research grants, runs a mentoring programme and disseminates cutting-edge findings through its journal Pediatric Research, amongst others. It currently has ten sections representing different Paediatric sub-specialties. Our mission: developing and applying research to improve newborn and child health.

Help us improve neonatal education worldwide

The ESN is set to become the premier neonatal learning offer across Europe and beyond. We provide a broad range of opportunities for partners to engage and collaborate. If you want to learn more about the ESN didactics and medical training as well as opportunities for collaboration, get in touch with us.