Internationalisation of Medical Education in China: An Investigation of Medical Graduates’ Global Competence and its influencing factors

Abstract Background：Global competence has become an important competence for medical graduates in the globalised world. However, no research has been made to measure their global competence. This study intends to fill the gap and look into the influencing factors, with the purpose to raise proposals helping students prepared with this competence in the globalised labor market. Methods: An on-line questionnaire was administered to China medical graduates sampled from four institutions of medical education. Data was retrieved and incorporated into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Data analysis was done by using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was made to analyze the level of medical graduates global competence. Influencing factors were investigated using multiple linear regression. Results: The sample had a relatively good level of global competence in general, but lacked skills in cross-cultural communication and international academic communication. We also found that “Internationalisation Concept and System” and “International Development of Teachers” in the school dimension and “Taking International Courses”, “International Publication” and “Participation in International Conference” in the dimension of individual international involvement had a significant positive impact on the cultivation of global competence. Conclusions: The development of medical graduates global competence is closely related to the university. Institutions of medical education should aim for the construction of an effective institutional mechanism for internationalisation to help improve students’ global competence.