Editorial Note
Message from the President of the Students’ Association
There was great scepticism and initial fear around the implementation of this change in the FMUL teaching philosophy – as indeed some of the longest-lasting of us will remember from the mythical Student General Assemblies of the time, dominated by uncertainty and doubt about the future of the course.
But the fact is that the reform is here: firm, secure and determined in the fulfilment of its aim to modernise the teaching of medicine, in an institution that itself wishes to be modern and at the forefront, in the most literal understanding of the words.
The atmosphere in which this metamorphosis from First Degree to Integrated Masters is lived out also shows the unshakeable spirit of the students of this institution, who, being constant in their interest shown for the destinies of the teaching of excellence promised when they enrolled, daily break with the dichotomised, classic and stereotyped image of unfounded youthful apathy and reaction. Accompanying the process is instead permanent and responsible, with us now moving, at the beginning of this presumed new era, into an adult phase of deep retrospection.
It is urgent to guarantee that the effort made by teachers, students and technicians was not only cosmetic, and that there has been a true integration of contents in an interdisciplinary manner, and not only just as a new sum made up of old parts.
It is urgent to guarantee a system of continuous assessment for the students, which should be demanding in its standards yet fair in its criteria, and should not penalise the students in the balance between taking advantage of opportunities for learning, and the adapting to forms of assessment arising from the (hopefully) lacking integration of contents.
It is urgent to re-think the philosophy of the distribution of theoretical, theoretical-practical, practical contact and autonomous study hours, analysing the results obtained through the adopting of problem based learning, not only in international institutions of reference, but also in successful Portuguese examples.
It is urgent to provide not only a bringing forward of clinical contact in the academic course of the young project-for-a-doctor, but also to oversee the quality of this contact through a reshaping of the distribution of practical and theoretical-practical teaching hours – towards which the AEFML contributed decisively with solutions of its own – with the final aim of guaranteeing a tutor-student relationship that is suited to and allows a teaching that is truly on a higher level.
It is urgent to fight for an optional common core that is worthy of the name, that allows the student to complement his medical training in areas of knowledge that really interest him, independently of these being taught by the Faculty of Medicine or not. In this aspect, the AEFML is pleased to see that the Coordinator of the Activities of the Optional Common Core has had a recent victory as to the ECTS accreditation of its most noteworthy activities, examples of which are the several different programmes of clinical and scientific interchange both in Portugal and abroad – the results of which can be read in this same issue of news@fmul.
So there are some areas in which our young reform still needs careful analysis on the part of those involved, the reason why the (re)-institution of a Department of Medical Education – which is also defended in the election programme by the Faculty Dean, Professor José Fernandes e Fernandes – takes on the character of, once again using anaphor, urgency.
But this new era that I am here daring to imagine is not restricted to debating subjects intrinsic to the cycle of life of our noble academy – much to the contrary. One of the main positions of this new way of being on the part of the FMUL student body is certainly that of its opening towards the exterior, in an increasing and widened awareness of the conditioning factors that their medical careers will take on in a future that is not so far off.
Medical Schools, National Councils of Medical Internship and the Intern, the Medical Order itself, and the Ministries of Health and Science, Technology and Higher Education come together in this moment around the debating of issues related to the adopting of a new Regulation for Medical Internship, Introduction of the Course Average in a considered manner in Access to Specific Training (and not only for separating tied candidates), Altering of the National Selection Test, among other issues relating to which students have recently shown some concern.
In this sense, and as the highest body for representing the students, the AEFML must see its main role as the mobilisation of students towards a founded and clear debate on all these variables, later acting, in the right place, according to the voice of the majority.
In order to do this, backing for the development and cultivation of a relationship of proximity with those who represent us is absolutely crucial in the defining of the AEFML’s strategic approach – with it being necessary to thank Professor Miguel Oliveira da Silva, President of the FMUL Pedagogical Council, and our colleague Inês Laíns, President of the National Association of Medicine Students– always taking care not to alienate the interest and motivation of the students, which is as obvious as it was three years ago during the debate with which I began this editorial piece.
I will finally end with a word of encouragement for those who will be reading this newsletter for the first time, my first year colleagues. The path is not easy, but is doable. The path they opted to follow will be in constant change over the six years it takes, but they will be supported all the way by your faculty – whether by us, colleagues, or by the medical tutors who are available to receive you and motivate you. In the same manner, you should make sure you take advantage of the reception activities that have been thought of for you, even the first year praxis events – always, of course, within this normality and civilized socialization that should be the standards of our students of medicine.
Due to all this and more you should get involved, and join in things. Get informed and participate in your future!
Diogo Medina, President of the AEFML, 217 818 890, diogomedina@aefml.pt
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