Since Programs are still somewhat confusing topic, in this newsletter I want to have a short overview of the Medical Education Systems Program as well as go deeper into one of its focus areas. What is more, since I couldn’t attend the March Meeting, therefore I couldn’t answer your questions and concerns or have discussions about medical education projects and activities, through this I hope to give you some clarifications and ideas about the MES Program.
I would really like to take this opportunity to thank Ahmed Elshaer from IFMSA Egypt, whom you have probably met during the March Meeting, for doing such an amazing job as Program Representative.
The main end goal of the Program is to create a platform where medical students would learn about medical education system and students meaningful participation in faculty decision making.
Generally the focus areas for the MES program are:
- Meaningful Student Involvement in medical education processes
- Motivated, educated and empowered medical students
- Medical curricula adapted to global educational standards
- Inclusion of Global Health in medical curricula
- Recognition of Non-formal education as a teaching method
IFMSA is aiming to create a growing movement of medical students – enlightened leaders engaged in transforming their own schools by having the important role and responsibility to tackle the challenges and participate in the quest for quality improvement and influence the changes that are essential for the rapidly changing healthcare education and healthcare delivery and thus we count on you to help us measure our joint impact in the field of Medical Education!
“Meaningful student involvement is the process of engaging students as partners in every facet of school change for the purpose of strengthening their commitment to education, community and democracy.“
Adam Fletcher
With all our work in the field we aim to develop a relationship with the medical schools’ faculty and management where students are no longer regarded simply as consumers of the education programme but as partners in the process. The term ‘student engagement’ refers not only to students’ being engaged with their studies but also to their engagement with their medical school, its curriculum, quality assurance, teaching practices and their colleagues. Students can be and should be change agents in an institution.
Students should have a say in discussions about the mission of the medical school, the development and implementation of the curriculum, the evaluation of the teachers and staff promotion, policy decisions etc.
Based on AMEE’s ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award programme the four spheres of engagement can be recognised as:
- Student engagement with the management of the school, including matters of policy and the mission and vision of the school
- Student engagement in the provision of the school’s education programme (engagement with the delivery of teaching and assessment)
- Student engagement in the academic community (engagement in the school’s
research programme and participation in meetings) - Student engagement in the local community and the service delivery
Here you can learn more about the different possibilities for student engagement: http://www.aspire-to-excellence.org/downloads/1133/ASPIRE%20Student%20Engagement%20Criteria_Jan%202015.pdf
I hope this overview of the topic has been useful and the AMEE’s ASPIRE criteria have demonstrated the areas at which you can aim your activities and interventions.
I would be really glad if you have done an activity or are planning to do one related to the focus areas and objectives of the Medical Education Systems Program to have it enrolled into the Program. I offer you my help and advice on planning, implementation, evaluation, improvement, promotion and enrolment of your activity.
Do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]
Alexander Farfarov, Medical Education Systems Program Coordinator
Recent Comments