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About Department

Aim

Promotion of professional development of TMA Academic and Invited Staff in the following directions: teaching, learning and assessment methods, also improvement of scientific-research skills.

General Information

Faculty Development Department in Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy was created in February, 2019 (by the name of Continuous Professional Development Department-until 2023) on the basis of results of SWOT analysis conducted in 2017, by TMA working group. Above-mentioned analysis revealed the lack of professional development activities among academic and invited staff, in TMA.

In January 2019 (renewed version November, 2022) Medicine/Sector Benchmarks of Higher Education was released, which has a purpose of development of MD Programs in Georgia, according to international standards, also international recognition of graduate qualification and mobility promotion. According to this document, Medical Education Quality Improvement can be achieved by creating Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) programs and curriculum integration. Integrated curriculum, competency-based medical education, on the other hand, means implementation of new methods of teaching, learning and assessment.

Academy follows competency-based medical education, integrated programs, which requires knowledge of appropriate methods of teaching/learning and assessment, by TMA academic and invited staff.

Together with above-mentioned statements, existing challenges in Medical Education, related to Student-Oriented learning, changed traditional, Teacher-Oriented Approach, already established in higher education and the focus was directed from teacher to student. Which means, active involvement of students in Learning Process, availability of feedback mechanisms and increasing role of the Teacher. Accordingly, it is necessary for teacher, working in medical education, to know and use teaching/learning methods involved in student-oriented learning process.

Another part of Activity of Faculty Development Department is promotion of Scientific-Research skills development among Academic and Invited Staff, in order to achieve integration of Scientific-Research evidence in Medical Education Programs.

Faculty Development Department implements the following activities, in order to promote Professional Development of Academic and Invited staff:

Trainings:
  • General Principles of Medical Education Methodology;
  • Student-Oriented learning;
  • Roles of Teachers involved in medical education;
  • Structure and role of Syllabi;
  • Teaching/learning assessment methods (Portfolio, OSCE, OSPE. SOE, MCQ, WPBA -MiniCEX, CbD, DOPS, CBCR, TBL, Flipped Classroom);
  • Feedback in Medical Education;
  • Principles of Academic Integrity;
  • General principles of students presentation organization;
  • Project Proposal Preparation;
  • Simulation in Medical Education.
Reflective Sessions:
  • In order to introduce Educational Programs, learning course integration and working on integrated cases and assignments;
  • In order to share experience gained by participation in International Conferences;
  • In order to introduce innovations in Medical Education;
  • In order to introduce and share methodical recommendations;
  • In order to share best practice in teaching activities.
Orientation days for new Teachers:
  • Introducing the History of Academy, Mission, Code of Conduct and Institutional culture;
  • Introducing Library Resources, Laboratory, Clinical Skills Center, Anatomage table;
  • Training in general principles of Medical Education Methodology;
  • Introducing TMA Educational Programs;
  • Connecting with the appropriate Mentor/Responsible Person of Teaching Course.

Participation of Teachers in International Trainings (AMEE-ESME courses) and Exchange Programs (Erasmus +Staff Mobility) and sharing their experience with colleagues!

Events planned by Faculty Development Department are leaded by international Experts in the field of Medical Education, as well as TMA Academic staff members, who have a big experience in teaching students and have done international trainings in medical education methodology.

Events are planned by Faculty Development Department according to:

  1. Future need of successful fulfillment of the Program;
  2. Planning Innovations;
  3. On the basis of the results of Staff Satisfaction and evaluation of teachers;
  4. On demand of Scientific-Research Department