Reviewing our approach to the quality assurance of medical education and training
Our Education Strategy 2011-2013 (pdf) commits us to a comprehensive review of our approach to quality assuring medical education and training.
The review started in 2012 and will conclude towards the end of 2013. We will then consult on our conclusions.
The terms of reference for the review (pdf) have been agreed.
Read the paper on the QA review discussed at the GMC Council meeting in June 2011 (pdf).
Quality assurance review workshops June 2012
We held a series of stakeholder workshops in Edinburgh, London and Manchester in June 2012 to gather ideas about how our QA arrangements should operate in the future. This included identifying what currently works well and what might need to change.
Participants discussed a number of themes which are being considered during the review, covering:
- the use of evidence in the QA process
- the role of the visits in the QA process
- the role of the medical Royal Colleges in the QA process
- measuring quality outcomes
- reporting QA outcomes.
Read the report of the comments made and ideas that emerged during the three workshops (pdf).
Research to support the review
To help inform the work of the review we commissioned research into how medical education (and education more generally) is quality assured by other bodies. The research was undertaken on our behalf by Colin Wright and Associates and ran until March 2012.
The research combined a literature review and a series of in-depth discussions with organisations that have a role in quality assuring the provision of education and training.
Read the research report from Colin Wright and Associates.
Discussion papers
In October 2012 we held a workshop to consider the future role of the medical royal colleges and faculties within the GMC's Quality Improvement Framework.
Read the paper that was prepared to help inform and stimulate discussion: The Role of the Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Quality Assurance, Quality Management and Quality Control (pdf).
Read the summary report setting out the comments made and ideas that emerged during the workshop: Quality Assurance Review Workshop 9 October 2012: The Role of the Medical Royal Colleges and faculties in Quality Assurance, Quality Management and Quality Control (pdf).
Reporting the findings of QA activity: options for discussion (pdf) explores ideas for improving the transparency and accessibility of our reporting mechanisms.
If you have comments or ideas about any of these papers, please contact the review at qualityreview@gmc-uk.org.
Information about the review
If you would like details of our plans, or have ideas for how the quality assurance of medical education should work in the future, let us know by contacting Richard Marchant at rmarchant@gmc-uk.org.