Curriculum  Development  Program for Higher Education Project/Medical Education

Revision and updating of Medical Education curriculum is an integral part of HEP-Medical Education Project. It is the second major component of the project, with particular focus on the seven undergraduate public health courses.

In 2007, the medical education curriculum was revised by Kabul Medical University with technical and financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency.  Ever since, the medical curriculum has not been modified or changed to accommodate new advancements in medicine and public health. Mandated by project objectives, HEP-Medical Education is tasked with revision and updating of medical education curriculum, with particular focus on the seven undergraduate public health courses.

The initiative started with comprehensive needs assessment of Public Health Department. The finding further supported the need to work on the existing curriculum and tailor the content to the Afghanistan's health needs and priorities.

Efforts to update and revise the curriculum has involve the Head of Educational Development Center (EDC), the Chair of Curriculum Review Committee, the Head of Public Health Department, faculty responsible for teaching public health courses to medical students, and other faculty.  Likewise, the nursing faculty will need to update and complete the current course listings to revise and update that curriculum.  To meet the goals and objectives of the Project, it is imperative that the teaching content be evidence-based and targeted at the health care realities of the Afghan people.

HEP’s experience and the experienced Afghan medical educators who have joined the Project will be helpful in navigating the politics and developing ownership to improve the curricula to ensure that it is aligned with key strategies, such as the ANDS, BPHS, and EPHS. 

The Project will continue to sponsor international experts—many based in Kabul, working on other USAID-supported projects—to present evidence-based content while modeling appropriate medical education teaching styles.  “Grand rounds” presentations, seminars, short courses, and possibly one semester-long course for KMU faculty (on Research Methodologies) will continue to be implemented by the Project. 

HEP will continue to support KMU efforts to enhance the medical curricula, and ensure that it is validated and approved by the EDC, the MoHE, and when appropriate, the MoPH.