XClose

UCL Global

Home
Menu

UCL Medical School consults on undergraduate programme for future Thai doctors

7 April 2020

UCLMS collaborates with HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science on a new undergraduate medical programme in Thailand

PCCMS with UCL Medical School colleagues at UCL

Delegates from the Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, PCCMS with UCL Medical School colleagues in the Wilkins Terrace, UCL. Centre: Professor Chirayu Auewarakul (PCCMS), centre-left: Professor Ann Griffin (UCLMS), centre-right: Dr Ahmed Rashid (UCL MSEC).

UCL Medical School (UCLMS) has been working closely with colleagues from HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Sciences (PCCMS) to develop a new undergraduate medicine programme. The collaboration seeks to draw on the skills, experience and resources of UCL’s medical education team to ensure the creation of a high-quality, contemporary programme.

The new programme, which will be taught in Bangkok, will welcome its first cohort of students later this year, marking a significant milestone in the institutions’ joint commitment to advancing medical education and delivering impact in Thailand.

UCL-led faculty development conference

In December 2019, staff from PCCMS’s Faculty of Medicine and Public Health (FMDPH) attended a conference hosted by UCL in London. UCLMS colleagues co-developed and delivered the agenda for the five-day conference. Topics included: curriculum development, teaching and learning, programme management, assessment and quality assurance.

The knowledge exchange supported staff development and programme preparations ahead of the planned launch of the undergraduate programme in Bangkok later this year.

The first student cohort

In January 2020, Professor Ann Griffin, Deputy Director of UCLMS and the UCL project lead, joined the admissions panel of FMDPH, PCCMS in Bangkok. For the first cohort, the panel aimed to offer 32 places to students in Thailand with the potential to fulfil the definition of a Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) doctor: ‘A socially responsible and highly competent patient-centred clinician who is capable of creating research and innovation for the betterment of the society.’

Professor Griffin said: “It has been an enormous pleasure working with FMDPH, PCCMS over the last four years. The academic collaboration has been incredibly successful and with support from UCLMS the faculty in Bangkok are about to launch a new undergraduate programme for medical students. Their MD programme is truly unique. It brings together two scientifically literate communities to produce medical education of the highest quality: contemporary, compassionate and competency-based. It was a privilege to be asked to interview their first applicants and fantastic to see so many excellent candidates."

Virtual collaboration

It is important that, despite the challenging COVID-19 period, UCL's work with colleagues overseas continues. Working at distance and across time zones is not new to this project. However, the relationship and ways of working built over time must continue to be strengthened.

Like others across UCL, UCLMS are utilising available technology to complement the existing creativity, skills and experience amongst the team so that work can continue in earnest.

Long-term relationship

As part of the joint initiative, UCLMS will continue to provide support over the coming years, including in the areas of faculty development, quality assurance and assessment design and development.

This initiative is part of the ongoing collaboration between UCL and Professor Dr Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, a leading scientist in natural product research. Since 1985 she has been a Professor of Chemistry at Mahidol University and is the founder and President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute, a biomedical and chemistry research institute in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Chancellor of the Chulabhorn Royal Academy.

Links


For the latest news about UCL’s international activity, partnerships and opportunities, subscribe to our bimonthly Global Update newsletter.