Embedding the development of graduate attributes into course design within an Undergraduate Medical Curriculum

Britten, A. (2023) Embedding the development of graduate attributes into course design within an Undergraduate Medical Curriculum. Discussion Paper. University of Glasgow.

Abstract

In the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC) sets the standard for medical education and training. Undergraduate medical curricula delivered in UK Medical Schools must demonstrate how their students achieve proscribed ‘Outcomes for Graduates’ to be an accredited provider. In parallel, the University of Glasgow has developed a set of 10 defined Graduate attributes. These are the academic abilities, personal qualities and transferable skills which all students should have the opportunity to develop as part of their university experience. It is well acknowledged that the medical curriculum is by necessity content heavy and that students typically focus on this medical content. This focus on content can be to the detriment of the broader transferable skills and Graduate attributes students are developing. To address this issue, a Year 2 medical course module - a Student Selected Component (SSC) - was designed to refocus student attention to the Graduate attributes and transferable skills required for a future medic. This 5-week module introduced students to Forensic Toxicology and the 10 University of Glasgow Graduate attributes. Formative assessment opportunities were built into the design of the module to ensure students were building their awareness of the Graduate attributes and were meeting supervisor expectations within this new form of reflection and assessment before the final summative assessment was submitted. Overall, students appeared to engage well with the new form of assessment and produced high quality assignments in relation to their awareness of the Graduate attributes. It is still unclear if they fully understood the longer-term relevance of these Graduate attributes to their future careers in medicine. It is hoped that this approach to embedding Graduate attributes alongside medical curriculum content they will be developed further and will increase students’ awareness of the relevance of these attributes to the medical profession.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Discussion Paper)
• Additional Information: A peer reviewed case study that provides insight into embedding graduate attributes into a medical curriculum.
• Keywords: Graduate attributes, employability, medical curriculum.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Britten, Dr Amanda
• Authors: Britten, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Publisher: University of Glasgow
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Author
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the Author