In cooperation with the Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau, the International Higher School of Medicine is implementing a strategic educational initiative — a double degree Master’s program in Healthcare Management.
Within this partnership, a joint curriculum has been developed and approved based on the 1+1 model, reflecting modern international standards for training managerial professionals in the healthcare sector. The program is aimed at developing key competencies in healthcare organization management, strategic planning, health economics, and digital solutions in medicine.

The collaboration has been actively developed through a series of working meetings and academic discussions. In 2024 and 2025, meetings were held at IHSM with the participation of WHZ representatives — Prof. Tom Schaal, Prof. Christian Brauweiler, and Prof. Stephan Novak — during which the structure of the program, academic content, and mechanisms for implementing the double degree were thoroughly elaborated.

In November 2025, an IHSM delegation led by the Rector Prof. M. Akhunbaev, with the participation of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. A. A. Usenova and the Dean of Postgraduate Studies A. E. Bazhanova, paid an official visit to WHZ. During the visit, meetings were held with the university leadership, including the Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Kassel, the Dean Prof. Tom Schaal, and the Head of the International Office Bettina Spring.

As a result of the negotiations and agreements reached, a formal Agreement on the implementation of the double degree program was signed, marking a key milestone in the institutionalization of the partnership and confirming the mutual commitment of both parties to long-term academic cooperation.

The implementation of this program provides students with the opportunity to study in an international academic environment, obtain two diplomas, and gain competitive advantages in the global healthcare labor market.