Asian Medical Students’ Exchange Programme (AMSEP)

The Asian Medical Students' Exchange Programme – more commonly known as AMSEP – is an integral programme unique to AMSA. The programme allows members of AMSA to participate in a 5 to 10-day pre-clinical or clinical exchange to a chapter of their liking. The idea was first established in 2003. After thorough consideration, the first pilot AMSEP was done between Indonesia and Japan in 2006, and that became the foundation of AMSEP ever since. AMSEP utilises a twinning system, where 2 chapters form a binding contract and perform exchanges bilaterally. Coordinated by the acting Director of AMSEP International, each chapter will take turns hosting and delegating. During the AMSEP, incoming delegates will be accompanied by a group of hosting committee members throughout their stay. The tight-knit relationship and sense of belonging is what makes AMSEP distinctive as an exchange program.

The programmes and activities held during an AMSEP vary, subject to discussion by the involved parties. Nonetheless, AMSEP intrinsically roots back to AMSA’s philosophy: Knowledge, Action, and Friendship. Key academic components include workshops, keynote lectures, hospital visits, guided hands-on clinical practice, training, academic discussions, learning about the local healthcare or medical education system, etc. Participating students are also expected to give back to the local community through social service activities that employ their medical knowledge. Moreover, the students will be able to experience the wondrous cultural aspects of the destination country, which includes visiting iconic landmarks, savouring local cuisines, and much more. Above all, AMSEP allows participants to form life-time, international friendships with those they meet during the exchange.

Over the years, AMSEP has expanded across continents with a myriad of exchanges. Inter-continent exchanges have taken place with other continents' medical students' associations - the European Medical Students' Association (EMSA) and the Federation of African Medical Students' Association (FAMSA), for which the intercontinental exchange programmes are being named as EAMSEP and FAMSEP respectively.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, all offline exchange programmes have been put to halt and as we continue to strive in virtual sustainability, we aspire to venture further in creating exciting memories together. All offline exchange programmes are currently replaced with e-Twinning programmes within AMSA chapters and with EMSA and FAMSA respectively.