International conference: “Entrustable Professional Activities in Developing Training Programmes by Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and Evaluating Competence”

2023-12-15 09:52:00

To advance the ongoing efforts in enhancing the Doctor of Medicine programme within the context of the 2023 IMPACT-MED project, School of Medicine – VNUHCM, in collaboration with The Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam (HAIVN), conducted “Entrustable Professional Activities in Developing Training Programmes by Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and Evaluating Competence“. The conference spanned two consecutive days, commencing on November 13 and concluding on November 14, 2023, at the VNUHCM Administration Building.

Conference overview

The workshop was attended by distinguished individuals, including Prof. PhD. MD. Olle ten Cate, Honorary Professor of Medical Education at University Medical Center Utrecht, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Additionally, representatives from 10 higher education institutions of Health Sciences nationwide actively participated in the event.

Attending delegates actively participated in the event

During his opening address at the conference, Prof. PhD. MD. Dang Van Phuoc, the Dean of the School of Medicine – VNUHCM and the Head of the Organising committee, expressed that

The implementation of Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) in medical training will have a central focus on the cultivation of skills and competencies among learners, particularly in the domains of clinical skills and effective patient communication. These proficiencies are deemed necessary for medical students to acquire prior to commencing their professional practice. This conference held significant promise in yielding valuable outcomes and serving as a catalyst for the continued advancement of medical education in Vietnam in the foreseeable future.

Prof. PhD. MD. Dang Van Phuoc, Dean of the School of Medicine – VNUHCM and the Head of the Organizing committee, expressed his opening address at the conference.

During the conference, Prof. PhD. MD. Olle ten Cate delivered a presentation on the utilisation of “Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)” as an approach to medical training, emphasizing its foundation on competency-based principles. EPAs represent a novel concept, denoting discrete units of professional practice that can be entrusted to a proficient practitioner with complete independence. This framework facilitates the enhancement of autonomy within capacity-based medical training. The application of EPAs extends to postgraduate training across all health sciences disciplines.

Prof. PhD. MD. Olle ten Cate, Honorary Professor of Medical Education at University Medical Center Utrecht, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (Left) delivered the presentation.

Drawing on extensive practical application experiences from universities worldwide, Prof. PhD. MD. Olle ten Cate provided detailed guidance during the workshop regarding the construction and quality assessment of EPA. The conference also featured interactive sessions where delegates engaged in discussions and group work, focusing on the examination of sample EPAs and practical application exercises.

Delegates engaged in discussions and group work
Delegates raised thought-provoking queries

Furthermore, as part of the conference itinerary, a visit to Thu Duc City Hospital was organised, offering delegates the opportunity to observe practical sessions attended by students, engaged in discussions with faculty members, and interacted with students actively involved in clinical practice at the hospital.

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School of Medicine – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City