The development of two schools within one Faculty of Medical Sciences, utilising traditional and problem-based methodologies: Problems and concerns

Abstract

This is an abstract of a study on the development of two medical curricula within The University of the West Indies' (UWI) Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) in Trinidad and Tobago, using traditional and problem-based methodologies, which was discussed during the Association for Medical Education in Europe's (AMEE) 1995 conference in Athens, Greece. The opportunity to meet the changing trends in medical education at UWI came about in 1976 when funds were provided to expand the FMS at St. Augustine in Trinidad. Between 1983-1989, an integrative curriculum utilizing problem-based learning strategies was implemented at the St. Augustine Campus. A new medical curriculum was also developed and implemented in 1978 on the Mona Campus, Jamaica. Staff was later encouraged to adopt a more problem-based approach in order to reduce administration and direction at the Mona Campus. The relevance of both curricula to the development of medical education in the FMS is discussed