gms | German Medical Science

In academic year 2005/2006, School of Medicine University of Osijek (MEFOS) enrolled first generation of 84 students into six years long, integrated undergraduate and graduate medical studies program designed according to Bologna declaration.

Some of the goals were:

• standardization of the program for medical studies,
• quality control, and
• mobility opportunities for students and teachers.

Results:

1.

Simultaneously with joining of Croatia to Bologna process in 2001, four medical schools in Croatia (including MEFOS) started the creation of the common core curriculum of the graduate studies of medicine, following recommendation of the European University Association [1]. Several changes from previous curriculum were adopted in the new program: introduction of ECTS, organization of subjects from continuous (during 2 semesters) to teaching in blockclasses followed by exams, continuous evaluation of students knowledge and skills during the classes, greater number of seminars and practicum and emphasis on individual work of student and with student (i.e. mentoring),

2.

there are some promising results showing improvement of students success on exams, however, there is need for development of other criteria for evaluation of the quality of teaching, acquiring and containing the knowledge, and

3.

a consensus on elective students and faculties has been achieved, and will be tested this summer. Some of the challenges: turn formal changes into substantial, adaptation of the highest levels of quality control, reinterpretation of ECTS and contents of studies.