Preparing future leaders in medical education
A new postgraduate degree in medical/health professional education has been introduced at the University of Sydney. The Master of Education (Health Professional Education) is a bold approach to preparing future educators across the health professions, including medical education.
The program aims to equip health professionals with a deeper understanding of contemporary, educational pedagogies and practices that underpin teaching and learning in the health professions. Core content includes clinical teaching, clinical reasoning, assessment, simulation-based learning, and the scholarship of teaching.
The MEd (HPE) is based on an interdisciplinary framework in two ways:
- it recognises the importance of students from across the health professions learning together. Students are health professionals engaged in developing and delivering education in a range of health-related settings including hospitals, clinics, professional organisations, staff development centres, and higher education institutions. Current students include clinical nurses, nurse educators, medical staff specialists, surgeons, physiotherapists, orthopists, and health lecturers.
- it is collaboratively managed by staff across multiple disciplines. The degree is coordinated by the Faculty of Education and Social Work and draws on teaching expertise and resources from Sydney Medical School including the Office of Medical Education, Sydney Nursing School, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney.
The program is underpinned by adult learning principles in that learners are considered proactive participants in constructing their own learning, and students' prior knowledge and experience informs what and how they learn. The MEd (HPE) curriculum is aligned with students’ educational needs in classroom or clinical settings. The program is delivered in a blended mode and includes both face-to-face and online learning.
Further information about the MEd (HPE)
By Koshila Kumar