A revolutionary approach to training tomorrow's doctors using the latest advances in e-learning and technology is being explored in an ambitious initiative involving all five Scottish medical schools.
The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council today announced their backing for a feasibility study on the shared concept of an International Virtual Medical School (IVIMEDS). A virtual school would pool expertise and make the most effective use of new learning technology to give students the highest quality medical education in a flexible way.
The medical schools of the Universities of Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews are committed to collaboration in exploring the possibilities and potential of the virtual school. They have been joined by leading medical schools in the UK, North America and Australasia who are lending their support.
Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Knowledge have added their financial backing to the initial studies.
The study will look at
"I am very pleased that all five Scottish medical schools are collaborating on this project which I am sure will in time bring benefits to Scottish higher education."
Health Minister Susan Deacon said: "The potential benefits of e-learning are great. I am delighted that the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and Scotland's medical schools are leading the way in exploring this huge potential. The sharing of international medical knowledge, the breaking down of geographical barriers to learning, and more on-the-job learning are just some of the exciting possibilities.
"But we don't just want to use new technology to train tomorrow's health professionals, important as that is. We are also committed to improving the skills of the staff of today. That's why next week I will announce a broad package of new learning tools and opportunities for NHS staff here in Scotland."
Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee who are leading the collaboration said: "The development of IVIMEDS provides a unique opportunity to achieve greater coherence in Scotland's medical schools, building bridges across professional and institutional boundaries and developing leading edge work in distance learning and continuous professional development. The reputation of Scottish medical education and the Centre for Medical Education in Dundee is respected across the world - this project will keep us in the lead and ensure that we make effective use of new technologies in our education programmes."
Professor Ronald Harden, Director of the Centre for Medical Education explains how IVIMEDS could work: "A virtual medical school would not replace face to face on-site learning but would blend with these approaches using paper-based as well as internet and DVD s to get the best out of all. It would ensure that the right learning is available for the student at the right time and in the right place. Students may be based in hospitals or at home in addition to medical schools.
"E-learning will encourage students to take more responsibility for directing their own learning. It will provide opportunities for students to individualise their learning to their own needs - exploring areas of special interest in more depth and calling up supporting material where necessary. The emphasis will be on interaction with the content material and explicit learning outcomes. Peer to peer learning and the development of a 'virtual learning community' will help avoid the 'lonely learner' syndrome and there will also be unique opportunities to work in groups which cross institutional, national and cultural boundaries.
"Students will have access to the views of a range of experts in a field via audio links and visuals and the possibility of video streaming. But face to face learning will also play an important part including clinical placements."
For further information please contact Katie Robertson, Communications Officer Tel 0131 313 6683 krobertson@sfc.ac.uk
Maureen Smith, Head of Communications, SHEFC, Tel 0131 313 6512, msmith@sfc.ac.uk
Carol Pope, Press Officer University of Dundee Tel 01382 344021 press@dundee.ac.uk See www.dundee.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
The feasibility study will start shortly and will take around six months
to complete.
The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) distributes public money for teaching and research to 21 higher education institutions in Scotland. For further information please visit www.shefc.ac.uk
The Enterprise Network, through a range of initiatives such as this, is committed to positioning Scotland among the global leaders in e-learning development.