Medical Education Unit

About the Department

The Medical Education Unit for Sri Ramachandra Medical College was formed in 1997 with the Principal of Medical College as its Chairman and senior faculty member interested in Medical Education its co-ordinators. The main activity early on was to conduct Basic Teachers Training Workshops focusing on developing objectives, group dynamics, taxonomy, teaching learning methodology, assessment and micro teaching on a 3 day program annually. About 30 faculty members were trained during each workshop by a core group of five faculty members who had already undergone training at National Institute of Medical Education (JIPMER) and in New Delhi. External resources were invited to be part of the faculty. The unit members and co-ordinators also participated in National and Regional Workshops organized by MCI to consider MBBS curriculum and regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

In 2003, a curriculum development initiative was developed under the aegis of the Medical Education Unit. Keeping in view the MCI guidelines and guidance from the Harvard Medical International. The curriculum development initiative developed competencies for 9 Diseases as per Global burden over a period of 2 years and piloted the cardiovascular block in 2005. The PRODEV, professional development program for the undergraduate student was the first innovation in the UG curriculum. An Integrated Curriculum for the MBBS course was developed and was implemented in 2006 June.

The MEU was reconstituted by the Dean of Faculties in March 2005 with a Principal Medical College as Chairman and was divided into 2 major wings the Curriculum development Committee and Faculty Development committee each with a Chair man and Secretary

The MEU also was permitted to co-opt other faculty members as per requirement and conduct workshops with resource persons both inside and outside the MEU. A faculty member co-coordinating with Harvard Medical International was made consultant for curricular process.

The Dean of Faculties again reconstituted the Medical Education Unit with eleven members in 2007.By now the MEU had evolved into a complete curriculum development wing and faculty development wing. While the former committee was dynamically introducing curricular reforms the latter was preparing the Faculty simultaneously for the change (Refer Curriculum development process at SRMC)

The final outcome at the curriculum development end was an integrated UG curriculum with innovations such as professional development, block based curriculum, small group case discussions, PBL, clinical Skills development etc.

The outcome at the Faculty Development end was that the institution became recognized as the Regional Centre for Medical education technology workshop by the Medical Council of India in 2009 and then upgraded as Nodal Centre in 2010 responsible for training Faculty for around 30 Medical colleges.

The objective of the MEU is to1. Be responsible for all the educational processes of the Sri Ramachandra Medical College

2. provide oversight on the educational activities, and

3. ensure continuous quality improvement in Medical education

4. To have an ongoing followup plan on the implementation of action plans to be carried out by

different faculty members. This followup action would be done by the faculty development

sub committee.

5. To oversee the Professional Development Course Objectives and its implementation across

departmental barriers in the undergraduate curriculum

6. To have core committee headed by Chairman Curriculum Committee to interact with faculty

in terms of developing curricular reforms and forward it for approval by the MEU.

7. MEU also would sensitize faculty and students in using the active learning centre.

8. MEU also would recommend and help in the development of a clinical skills lab and

simulator lab for the Medical College and University.

9. MEU shall also be responsible for the conduct of faculty skill enhancement workshops once

every 2 months. This will be based n faculty surveys and completely faculty driven

programme.

The Curriculum Committee also comes up with its objectives which are as follows.1. To schedule, organize and integrate the undergraduate education program through the three

phases

2. To ensure a continuous system of student assessment, feedback and remediation

3. To continue the development of SRMC - competency based curriculum

The responsibilities include1. Co-ordinate the activities of the Faculty Development and Curriculum development through

its 2 sub committees , Faculty Development and Curriculum development

2. introduce innovative curricular reforms and curriculum development initiatives

3. advice and get the approval of curriculum and faculty development initiatives through the

Dean of faculties

4. Coordinate the Medical Council of India Regional Centre initiatives

5. oversee the Professional Development Course Objectives and its implementation across

departmental barriers in the undergraduate curriculum

6. conduct annual student and faculty Orientation programs

7. Liaison with Harvard Medical International on educational needs for the University

8. Recommend and help in the development of a clinical skills and simulator lab for the Medical

College and University.

9. Responsible for quality assurance in Medical education

10. Recommend resources on Medical Education

11. Promote research in Medical education

12. Ensure coordination and implementation of the Educational initiatives of the Governing

body

FunctioningMEU meets 10 times a year

Need based additional meetings

Predetermined agenda circulated to all members, deliberate on agenda issues during meeting followed by action taken

The Office copies of all these proceedings are available with the Secretary MEU.

The Curriculum CommitteeObjectives:The curriculum committee functions with the following objectives

Co ordinate the undergraduate education program through all the three phases

Coordinate - curriculum development process

ResponsibilitiesStudents Schedule and Rotation

Centralizing the students attendance and evaluations

Generating a student report

Plan Feed-back and remedial program for students

Ensure the logistic support

Will co ordinate the periodic review of the curriculum based on the evaluations

Implementing curricular reforms

FunctioningThe Curriculum Committee will meet once a month to discuss issues regarding the students program, assessment, performance and attendance

The committee will also meet once in 3 months with the HODs and the Dean of Faculties to look through the issues arising from the monthly meeting

The committee will send the minutes of the meeting to the Secretary of the Medical Education Unit

A complete report of both processes will be presented to the Medical Education Unit

Faculty Development CommitteeObjectives:The Faculty Development wing of the MEU was created with the objective of to enable faculty to

improve their knowledge and skills in teaching, educational research and educational administration

Prepare institution and faculty members for their various roles

Play role in capacity building

Sensitize, equip and empower teachers for discharging their professional responsibilities.

Responsibilities

The responsibility of the Faculty Development committee

Survey the strength and weakness of faculty members of the Medical College

Improve faculty interaction and communication

Create effective mentorship program

Conduct remedial workshops for faculty

Evolve policies in consultation with Dean of Faculties regarding institutional sponsorship to faculty members for Academic and Scientific presentations at National and International level

To recommend for faculty incentives

To coordinate and organize the faculty development workshops in Medical Education

The MCI Regional Centre Workshops on Medical Education Technologies

The Annual Ramachandra Harvard Faculty Development Workshops

The Biannual Leadership Program For Leaders in Medical education

Focused workshops for the faculty based on the need

FunctioningThe Faculty development Committee will meet once a month to discuss faculty development programs

The committee will send the minutes of the meeting to the Secretary of the Medical Education Unit

A complete report of both processes will be presented to the Medical Education Unit