Remarks for Basic Medical Education Quality Improvement of Yonsei University in Korea

기본의학 교육과정 개선 방안 - 연세의대 광혜교육과정을 중심으로 -

Medical Students' competencies depend on the medical school curriculum. Basic medical education, in particular, is an important starting point for further medical competency development. We aimed to identify the most important areas of reform in the basic medical education curriculum of Yonsei Medical School. To accomplish this, we sought case studies of different medical schools and discussion points for quality improvement methods. A qualitative comparison method saturated through the systematic discussions on the emerging thematic approaches to determine the current directions in medical school curriculum reform. The discussions, which involved 7 experts, spanned 8 months and were based on a literature review, with focus on the 7 selected case studies. From the discussions, we concluded that in order to improve basic medical education curriculum, the following measures need to be carried out. First, an outcome-based curriculum is to be designed. The expected outcome is to be deliberately and succinctly defined and should be expressed as teaching and learning objectives. Second, the core subjects and elective subjects are to be classified on the basis of the aim, content, and passage level of the subjects. Hence, the core curriculum must be treated as a standard part of medical knowledge, and the elective curriculum must be richer and more in-depth. Third, universities should institutionalize regular evaluation of their departments. Appropriate and just evaluations should be made, and feedback given to the school's administrative department. Fourth, the departmental and administrative management of the basic medical education curriculum should be harmonized with each other. Finally, teaching and learning resources are to be increased and diversified and made available to professors and students for basic medical education.