The Way of Creating Student Involvement in Medical Education

Indonesia, needs to find good medical doctor in reaching out national prosperity. But it’s not easy to create, maintain, and improve the human resource in medical field. The education system and curriculum will play an important role. Currently Indonesia is looking for the best strategy in graduating proper medical professional. Mostly we use student-based education system in recent year. But we have to realize that there are still many things to improve. Also, controversy among lecturer which expect conservative way of study. In their opinion, student-based curriculum wasn’t effective enough.

     Me, admit that student involvement needs proactive role by student self. But the big question rises up, our students have a huge interest in these systems? A little number of professionals didn’t believe on their student totally. They have a reason, after a period of time medical student can’t prove. For example, most of student use problem-based learning (PBL) session not for discussion. Whereas PBL session was the key for medical students to manifest the student involvement curriculum. Usually students are more interested on topics which occurs highly on the community. Such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. As they thought that they will face it directly. Actually, the medical council has decided “competency standard” for specialist or general physician. It makes every PBL mostly discusses about popular diseases. Hope it will improve student interest in studying medicine.

     After my several surveys regarding how hard for studying medicine in their own faculty. The majority said that the absence of module gives significant effect. Mainly medical school will present a guidance, for example; module. Absolutely agree. Every or almost medical school only provides a guide for laboratory practice. We saw and observe that OSCE or OSPE’s score usually higher than MCQ.  In my opinion, medical textbook must be completed by module. Especially for a book which made by European/American contributors. The module will give boundary in what topics are compulsory for medical students. So, I believe with this strategy students would be more proactive. As I have stated in the previous paragraph. One crucial requirement for building student involvement in medical education curriculum.

     Recent years, medical students are depending on lecturer’s presentation. Even though we all knew if presentation file isn’t the main focus. Presentation draft explains only the key point. Student involvement is needed by developing those key points. As far as they are willing to be active. However, the reality is strongly different. Students should be expanding more their module and presentation file which they got from the lecturer. I believe by this method, either faculty or student will finish the academic goals perfectly. Next, we all agree to emphasize all lecturers must present their reference. Could be a textbook, journal, and research that they have attached in his/her presentation file. It means that students will have the same perception with learning objectives.

     The last, my opinion about the student involvement in medical education curriculum are school architecture. It should be more positive if every medical school creates half-circle shape class. It builds better discussion among lecturer and student. Simply, the lecturer can observe all his/her student. The way of conservative teaching could be prevented (one-way communication). Also, students have a right for asking and giving their opinion during the class. Finally, we can call it appropriate path in actualizing student involvement in medical education and curriculum. (Prima Cakra, 2020)