MedEdPublish (Jan 2018)
Faculty members’ perception towards changes in Medical Education in Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Introduction and aim: Medical Education journey in Saudi Arabia started from about 50 years ago, however, it witnessed a lot of changes and rapid development in the last 10 years especially with the increase the number of medical colleges. Medical Education in Saudi Arabia seems to follow the same international pattern regarding the change process. There is a great need for a rigorous approach for evaluating the effectiveness of this changes and the process of its management. The aim of this study is to evaluate medical education change in Saudi Arabia from Faculty Staff Members' point of view. Method: The research was conducted through a cross-sectional study using a survey and grounded theory, as a mixed methods strategy. Results: The challenge that has the highest perception was the shortage of well-trained Faculty Staff Member. The strategies for implementing change are categorized into three categories: Curriculum reform, faculty development and improving learning environment. Conclusion: Change could be implemented through curriculum reform with the help of qualified Faculty staff members in presence of an enabling learning environment and supportive organizational measures. In Saudi Arabia, a variety of strategies was used for implementing change in medical education, without any preference to specific one.
