NEWS

The CODE-YAA@PC-EDU Summer School 2026 Memory and Visual Report has been published, capturing key moments from the intensive programme held in Pamplona, Spain, between 8–12 June 2026. The report highlights the Summer School’s focus on leadership, ethics, education, communication, quality improvement, and humanising approaches to palliative care. Bringing together participants, educators, researchers, and facilitators from…

The CODE-YAA@PC-EDU Summer School 2026 was successfully completed in Pamplona, bringing together participants, educators, researchers, and facilitators for an intensive programme focused on leadership, ethics, education, communication, and quality improvement in palliative care. Throughout the Summer School, participants engaged in interactive workshops, reflective discussions, case-based activities, and group work designed to strengthen their capacity as…

The workshop “Hydration in the Dying Phase: Ethical Questions and Clinical Decision Making” was facilitated by John Ellershaw. The session addressed one of the important and sensitive areas of palliative care: clinical and ethical decision-making around hydration in the dying phase. Participants were invited to reflect on how such decisions require careful consideration of patient…

The workshop “Ethical Challenges in Clinical Practice: A Discussion of Case Report & Communication” was facilitated by Frank Elsner, with the support of co-facilitator Irem Ozgoren Kınlı. The session focused on the ethical and communicative challenges that emerge in clinical practice, particularly in situations where healthcare professionals need to deliver difficult or distressing news. Participants…

The workshop “Ethics in Practice: Case-Based Reflection on Real Clinical Challenges” was facilitated by John Ellershaw, with the support of co-facilitator Minna Hokka. The session focused on ethical dilemmas that emerge in real palliative care practice, inviting participants to reflect on difficult situations experienced by patients, families, caregivers, physicians, and healthcare teams. Key topics included…

The workshop “Research in Ethics in Palliative Care Settings: Focus on ACP with Frail Patients” was facilitated by Simone Veronese, with the support of co-facilitator Minna Hokka. This interactive workshop presented examples of empirical ethics research projects used to support the implementation of Advance Care Planning (ACP) with frail people. Participants were introduced to specifically…

The workshop “Empowering Leaders: Project Management Strategies in Palliative Care” was facilitated by Simone Veronese, with the support of co-facilitator Eduardo Garralda. This interactive workshop used the project management framework to enable participants to build on their leadership skills in palliative care. The Atlantes project was used as an example, and the various phases of…

The workshop “Developing Professional Coping in Palliative Care: A Reflective Leadership Workshop” was facilitated by Maria Arantzamendi, with the support of co-facilitator Carlos Centeno. The session focused on the transformative journey of palliative care professionals and explored how coping develops through reflection, emotional awareness, vulnerability, and professional growth. Participants were invited to reflect on different…

The workshop “Arts and Life” was facilitated by Prof. Dr. Carlos Centeno, with the support of co-facilitators Maria Arantzamendi and Vilma Tripodoro. The session explored the meaningful role of art in palliative care, particularly its capacity to give voice to human vulnerability, emotional experience, compassion, and dignity. Participants reflected on how artistic forms such as…

The workshop “Leadership in Curriculum Evaluation Research” was facilitated by Prof. Dr. Jose Pereira with the support of co-facilitator Tania Pastrana. The session focused on how educational leaders can build a strong evidence base for curriculum evaluation and research in palliative care education. Participants explored different types of evidence, including empirical evidence, synthesised evidence, conceptual…

The workshop “Quality Improvement: A Primer for Palliative Care Educators and Leaders” was facilitated by Prof. Dr. Jose Pereira and introduced participants to the core principles of quality improvement in palliative care education and leadership. The session connected the broader roles of health professionals, including communicator, collaborator, leader, scholar, health advocate, and medical expert, with…

The workshop “Leadership in Curriculum Design” was facilitated by Prof. Dr. Jose Pereira with the support of co-facilitator Tania Pastrana. The session focused on how effective leadership can guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of meaningful educational programmes in palliative care. Participants explored key curriculum development frameworks, including the ADDIE Model, Kern’s Cycle for Medical…

The workshop “Design Thinking in Medical Education and Palliative Care” aimed to introduce participants to the principles of Design Thinking, exploring what it is, how it is defined, and how it can foster creativity and innovation in medical education and palliative care teaching. The session highlighted Design Thinking not only as a methodology, but also…

The workshop is built around a real-world case simulation. Participants are given a scenario: a palliative care unit has received a major funding offer of €4.2 million to become a Regional Centre of Excellence. The offer comes with four non-negotiable conditions: merging with oncology, prioritising cancer patients (70% of beds), becoming a research and training…

The workshop ‘Transformational Leadership in Palliative Care: from Theory to Action’ highlighted that effective palliative care depends not only on clinical excellence but also on leadership — a skill that is decisive for whether services survive, teams stay well, and change takes hold. Drawing on a Delphi consensus study conducted in 2021 and published in…

Dr Aneta Maria Kochanowicz from WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza, leader of Working Group 2: Culture, Language & Diversity within the COST Action CA22127 CODE-YAA@PC-EDU project, presented the project during the 18th International Conference of the journal “Palliative Medicine in Practice”, held in Gdańsk on 29–30 May 2026. Her presentation, entitled “Cultural and Linguistic Frameworks…

The CODE-YAA@PC-EDU COST Action actively participated in the 20th EAPC World Congress, held in Prague, Czech Republic, from 14–16 May 2026. The congress once again brought together leading experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, organisations, and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond, creating a major platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation in palliative care education and…

The CODE-YAA Malaga meeting was successfully held in Málaga, Spain, bringing together COST Action members in a productive hybrid format to advance the next phase of the CODE-YAA@PC-EDU project. The meeting created an important space for coordination among working groups and helped strengthen the Action’s shared commitment to improving palliative care education across Europe and…

We are pleased to announce a new publication arising from the work of COST Action CA22127 CODE-YAA@PC-EDU: “Towards quality indicators in palliative care education: An umbrella review”, published in Palliative Care and Social Practice. This umbrella review represents an important step in the conceptual development of the CODE-YAA framework. By synthesising evidence from 24 reviews,…

On April 8, 2026, the first CODE-YAA exchange bringing together palliative care education providers from German-speaking Switzerland was successfully held, with contributions from Eleonore Baum and Monica Fliedner. The session was marked by open and lively discussions on quality indicators, their relevance, and the challenges and opportunities related to their implementation in practice. The exchange…

Newsletter #3 Published: Empowering Voices in Palliative Care Education We are excited to announce the release of the third edition of the CODE-YAA Newsletter, covering our activities and achievements from October 2025 to March 2026. This issue highlights our continued progress in bridging the gap between scientific research and clinical practice across Europe. Key Highlights…

On 27 March 2026, Action members met online to prepare the upcoming “CODE-YAA Planning Malaga Meeting”, which will take place in Málaga, Spain, on 8 May 2026 in a hybrid format. The meeting aims to advance the next phase of the CODE-YAA project by coordinating research, advocacy, and communication efforts to support the dissemination, implementation,…

Our COST Action continues to move forward with the same strong team spirit and shared commitment. We would like to announce an important update in Working Group 2. Following the recent approval by the Management Committee, Aneta has officially taken over the leadership of WG2. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Phil…

WG6 Communication & Dissemination Group Recharged March 10, 2026 – Working Group 6 (WG6), dedicated to Communication and Dissemination, held a online meeting, signaling a vibrant and focused new chapter for the COST Action CA22127 (CODE-YAA@PC-EDU). Revitalized Leadership and Vision After a period of relative inactivity, WG6 has officially been revitalized under the new leadership. The meeting…

CODE-YAA Honors PACED with the “Institutional Influencer Award” for Excellence in Palliative Care Education As part of the COST Action CODE-YAA@PC-EDU project, we are proud to announce that the Institutional Influencer Award has been presented to PACED (Advancing Palliative Care Education Across Regions). This award recognizes PACED’s outstanding contribution to science communication and its transformative…

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration! CODE-YAAis partnering with the international project “Best Care for the Dying” to bring a unique educational opportunity to our community. The upcoming Summer School is a prestigious gathering of researchers, clinicians, and students dedicated to improving the quality of end-of-life care globally. This is more than…

Following our recent announcement regarding the CodeYAA Influencer Award, we are thrilled to share the inspiring story behind this year’s winner. The award goes to Diana Nabunje Lubega, a visionary Ugandan engineer and digital health innovator whose work is bridging the critical gap in healthcare for some of the most vulnerable populations. Diana, a Project…

We are sharing this reminder now for a clear reason: applications submitted by the end of March help us plan the year’s budget and activities more effectively. Applications may also be possible later, but early submissions make the process easier for everyone. Several grant opportunities are currently available within the CODE-YAA Action. Honestly, this is…

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science provides an important opportunity to reflect on both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain. Although women represent a large share of university graduates and early-career researchers in Europe, they continue to be underrepresented in senior academic positions, decision-making bodies, and certain scientific fields, particularly…

Within the scope of our COST Action, an Influencer Award was granterd to one individual and one institution in recognition of their outstanding contributions to science communication and dissemination activities aligned with the objectives of the Action. A total of 13 candidates were nominated for the award. The final recipients were selected through a structured…

On 26 January 2026, Work Group 2 (WG2) of the COST Action CA22127 – CODE-YAA@PC-EDU convened for a one-day online meeting bringing together WG2 members from across Europe and partner countries. The meeting was co-led by Prof. Phil Larkin and Prof. Olga Riklikiene and focused on reviewing progress, addressing current challenges, and defining strategic priorities…

Minna Hökkä, vice action chair of Code-YAA, was invited to present the project at the 32nd Italian SICP conference on palliative care. In her presentation, she provided a brief overview of the current state of palliative care education in light of the recently published EAPC Atlas of Palliative Care. There is still an urgent need…

Last Tuesday, Eleonore Baum presented the CODE-YAA project to stakeholders in palliative care education at the annual IG Bildung und Forschung meeting in St.Gallen, organized by Palliative Ostschweiz. She provided updates on the project’s recent developments and activities at the European level. 🌟 Eleonore states: “It was inspiring to connect with colleagues from educational institutions,…

Our Working Group 1 Leader Dr. Stephen Mason is presenting an oral speech titled “Is it possible to develop European-wide standards for palliative care education? The EU-COST Action CODE-YAA Project” at the Tenth International Research Conference on Best Care for the Dying Person in Liverpool, UK (19–20 November 2025). 📘 The presentation explores the feasibility…

Thrilled to share that our poster titled “Bridging Science and Practice: Science Communication in the CODE-YAA@PC-EDU Project” is being presented by our wonderful Action Chair Prof. Piret Paal at the Tenth International Research Conference on Best Care for the Dying Person in Liverpool, UK (19-20 November 2025). 👥 Authors: Cornelia Brandstötter-Gugg, Piret Paal, Tania Ximena…

COST action CA22127 CODE-YAA aims to develop quality indicators to assess the quality of palliative care education. Through a multi-step process (literature review, document analysis, and a Delphi study) a list of over 30 indicators has been developed. On June 2–3, a WG2 meeting was held at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas, Lithuania.…

The Influencer Award honors individuals or groups who have significantly advanced public awareness and education in palliative care through social media, campaigns, educational resources, or advocacy efforts. Application period has ended. There are five criteria: 1. Public Awareness & Reach Demonstrated success in engaging broad and diverse audiences through impactful content, campaigns, or advocacy efforts:…

Social Media coordinator Sofiia Shunkina participated in the COST Academy Young Researcher Training at the COST Association office in Brussels on 2–3 September 2025, representing the CODE YAA project (Palliative Care Education Action). The training brought together around 40 young researchers from across the world to network, share experiences, and develop new skills. It focused…

On 28 August 2025, experts from across Europe met in Tartu, Estonia, and online for the latest Code-Yaa@PC-Edu Hybrid Meeting, part of COST Action CA22127. The gathering, hosted by the University of Tartu, focused on the big questions shaping palliative care education today: Why do we need a shared glossary of terms? What makes a strong quality indicator for…

Code-Yaa@PC-Edu is seeking a dynamic and motivated Group Leader to take charge of our Dissemination Group. We believe that dissemination is not just an additional task but one of the most crucial elements of our project: the way we ensure that our research, insights, and innovations reach the audiences who can benefit most from them.…

The Summer School organised by Working Group 4 (WG4) took place from 9 to 13 June 2025, at the University of Navarra Museum in Pamplona, Spain. Here is the Memory and Evaluation Report (pdf).

COST action CA22127 CODE-YAA aims to develop quality indicators to assess the quality of palliative care education. Through a multi-step process (literature review, document analysis, and a Delphi study) a list of over 30 indicators has been developed. On June 2–3, a WG2 meeting was held at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas, Lithuania.…

The CODE-YAA project CODE YAA – Palliative Care Education, which aims to enhance the quality of education in palliative care, was prominently featured at the 19th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), held in Helsinki, Finland, on 29–30 May 2025. On Saturday, 31 May at 8:00 AM, Professor Piret Paal co-chaired…

On March 17, 2025 in Helsinki (Finland) took place the CODE-YAA@PC-EDU hybrid MC-meeting, where a review of working progress was made, quality indicators of palliative care education, advocacy and cultural issues were discussed. The meeting began with the welcome speech of Minna Hökkä, Action Vice-Chair and Grant Holder Scientific Representative. She described the status of…

Palliative care is a specialized form of medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illnesses. It is centered on improving the quality of life for both patients and their families, addressing not just physical pain but also emotional, social, and spiritual needs. The role of women in palliative…

As part of our Project “COllaboratively DEveloped culturallY Appropriate and inclusive Assessment tool for Palliative Care EDUcation” (CODE-YAA), the WG5 “WG 5: Global Policy & Advocacy“ ,  team is delight to announce a series of webinars aimed at enhancing collective skills and knowledge in palliative care education. Advocacy in palliative care education is essential to…

From October 22-23, 2024, the first face-to-face (hybrid) meeting of the CODE-YAA Core Group took place at the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. With the first grant period of the CODE-YAA project ending at October 31, 2024, fruitful discussions on results and milestones achieved so far, provided the basis for a successful…

Congratulations to our Action Chair Piret Paal for receiving the Tara Cook Award for Innovation in Neuropalliative Education from the International Neuropalliative Care Society (INPCS) at the 4th INPCS Annual Meeting 2024 (September 20-22, 2024) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Piret Paal herself highlights the relevance of innovation in the field of Neuropalliative Care Education: “Dissemination…

Education in palliative care plays a crucial role in ensuring that healthcare professionals have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide quality care to patients with serious illnesses. Meetings and projects involving experts from various fields such as medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and more can help in sharing best practices, research findings, and innovative…

We are happy to announce and sincerely congratulate the winner of our CODE-YAA@PC-EDU ITC conference grant: Henri – Andreas Mullalli, MSc from Galilee Palliative Care Centre (Spata Attica, Greece) His abstract entitled “Symptom Burden and Concerns: Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale upon Admission to a Palliative Care Centre” was accepted for poster presentation at the…

  Our sincere congratulations go to Action Chair Piret Paal for receiving the international Tara Cook Award 2024 for Innovation in Neuropalliative Education and the 1st Science Award of the Austrian Palliative Society (OPG) for her outstanding efforts in Palliative Care. As this year’s awardee of the prestigious Tara Cook Award by the International Neuropalliative…

We like to point your attention on the EAPC free webinar presented by COST CODE-YAA@PC-EDU Action Chair Prof Piret Paal and titled “The impact of international collaboration in palliative care education and research“. Date: April 30, 2024 Time: 2-3 pm CEST For registration, please klick here.

  On June 27-28, 2024, the first CODE-YAA@PC-EDU face-to-face Working Group meeting is scheduled in Yerevan, Armenia. This meeting unites the projects Working Groups 1-6 to commonly present and discuss individual results and first milestones achieved, focusing on specific quality indicators defined for implementation of a gold standard in high-quality palliative care education and for…

On March 22, 2024, CODE-YAA Action chair Prof Piret Paal participates at the second ONLINE International Symposium of Nursing Research Collaboration, presenting the topic “COST Projects and Pathways to Follow in Nursing Research“. For registration and detailed programme please klick here. #costcodeyaa #palliativecare

On February 15, 2024, the CODE-YAA project was presented at the Annual Research Thinktank of the International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person by Dr Stephen Mason. As head of CODE-YAA Working Group 1 (Gold Standard: Defining quality indicators for Palliative Care Education; testing the CODE-YAA tool), Dr Mason introduced our project, aims,…

We are proud to announce our first CODE-YAA@PC-EDU conference grant, which will be offered to support young researchers, innovators, and PhD students from COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) or Near Neighbour Countries (NNC) whose abstract is accepted for oral or poster presentation at the EAPC 2024 13th World Research Congress in Barcelona, Spain (16-18th May…

CODE-YAA@PC-EDU is a project that aims to promote high-quality education and training in Palliative Care. The project was conceived, developed, and is now officially established. On January 30-31, 2024, the official Kick-off Meeting of our COST Action CODE-YAA@PC-EDU (CA22127) took place successfully at the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Austria. The meeting brought together the…

We congratulate CODE-YAA@PC-EDU Action Chair Prof Dr Piret Paal for election as co-opted member of the Executive Committee of International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person. Formed in 2014, the International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person is a global network of clinicians and researchers sharing a common goal to improve…

CODE-YAA@PC-EDU is funded by the European Union as COST Action (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and supervised by COST Action Lead Prof Dr Piret Paal. At the first Management Committee Meeting (MC1) on 21st of September 2023, a total of 33 researchers from across Europe have met online for networking on implementation of the…