More And Better
CAF in the Teaching-Learning Context of Medicine
Three years after the introduction of CAF in FMUL, we spoke to António Santos, of the Improvement Plan Project at FMUL to try to understand the benefits this tool has brought to FMUL.
Over the last 10 years, the Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Lisbon has been faced with two challenges, which have actually greatly improved the quality of teaching-learning and research at FMUL: (i) the Bolonha Process and (ii) the introduction of the Integrated Masters in the medical degree course. The introduction of the CAF tool meant that, from an administrative perspective, we were ready for these two events.
If we take an overview of the development in the best practices found in the Portuguese Public Administration today, it could be suggested that, among other elements, the introduction of the CAF model, as a supporting tool in the management of public organizations, has assisted an efficient, qualitative evolution in public organizations.
For this reason the three groups involved in CAF training focused their attention on producing an organizational diagnosis with the objective of producing an improved and sustainable application plan that could be implemented practically within the context of our organization.
The final needs’ diagnostics allowed us to intervene in transversal areas of activity with practical results and implementations in areas such as: Communication; Processes; and Organisational Well-Being. Communication: (i) Creation of an information flash to improve the internal circulation of information; (ii) reviewing, updating and standardization of the contents on the FMUL portal to facilitate access to information needed by FMUL’s various types of clients. Processes: (i) analysis of the layout of organisational processes and procedures; (ii) reengineering existing processes; (iii) conducting internal audits. Organisational Well-Being: inclusion of the topic "knowing to prevent - intervening to protect" in the Introduction Program for new students at FMUL, (ii) Organization of the Workshop "The Art of Living", (iii) promotion of the "Active Pause" activities. This activity highlighted the need to develop a structure connected to the Social Responsibility of Organisations – so the “Faculty of Assistance" was born.
António J. Marques dos Santos
antoniosantos@medicina.ulisboa.pt
Over the last 10 years, the Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Lisbon has been faced with two challenges, which have actually greatly improved the quality of teaching-learning and research at FMUL: (i) the Bolonha Process and (ii) the introduction of the Integrated Masters in the medical degree course. The introduction of the CAF tool meant that, from an administrative perspective, we were ready for these two events.
If we take an overview of the development in the best practices found in the Portuguese Public Administration today, it could be suggested that, among other elements, the introduction of the CAF model, as a supporting tool in the management of public organizations, has assisted an efficient, qualitative evolution in public organizations.
For this reason the three groups involved in CAF training focused their attention on producing an organizational diagnosis with the objective of producing an improved and sustainable application plan that could be implemented practically within the context of our organization.
The final needs’ diagnostics allowed us to intervene in transversal areas of activity with practical results and implementations in areas such as: Communication; Processes; and Organisational Well-Being. Communication: (i) Creation of an information flash to improve the internal circulation of information; (ii) reviewing, updating and standardization of the contents on the FMUL portal to facilitate access to information needed by FMUL’s various types of clients. Processes: (i) analysis of the layout of organisational processes and procedures; (ii) reengineering existing processes; (iii) conducting internal audits. Organisational Well-Being: inclusion of the topic "knowing to prevent - intervening to protect" in the Introduction Program for new students at FMUL, (ii) Organization of the Workshop "The Art of Living", (iii) promotion of the "Active Pause" activities. This activity highlighted the need to develop a structure connected to the Social Responsibility of Organisations – so the “Faculty of Assistance" was born.
António J. Marques dos Santos
antoniosantos@medicina.ulisboa.pt