Colleges plan 'virtual' medical schools

Plans are in place for the 'virtual medical schools'

Plans are being developed to train the doctors of the future in 'virtual' medical schools.

Five Scottish universities are pioneering research on using the latest advances in e-learning and technology to train the medics of tomorrow.

The 'virtual medical school' will pool the resources of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews universities in a bid to give students the best possible training.

All five of Scotland's medical schools will be supported in the project by leading medical schools from the UK, the US and Australia.

Glasgow University is one of the five to take part

If the feasibility study is successful it could lead to a more permanent International Virtual Medical School (IVIMEDS) being developed for students.

The ambitious project has already won financial backing from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Knowledge.

Professor Ronald Harden, director of the Centre for Medical Education, explained how the concept of IVIMEDS could work.

He said: "A virtual medical school would not replace face to face on-site learning but would blend with these approaches using paper-based as well as internet and DVDs to get the best out of all.

"It would ensure that the right learning is available for the student at the right time and in the right place. Students may be based in hospitals or at home in addition to medical schools."

'Exciting possibilities'

He said that such a development would encourage students to take more responsibility for their own learning and allow them to develop special interests

Professor Harden added: "Peer to peer learning and the development of a virtual learning community will help avoid the 'lonely learner' syndrome and there will also be unique opportunities to work in groups which cross institutional, national and cultural boundaries.

Susan Deacon: "Potential benefits"

"Students will have access to the views of a range of experts in a field via audio links and visuals and the possibility of video streaming. But face to face learning will also play an important part including clinical placements."

The project, which is being led by Dundee University, has won the backing of Scotland's Health Minister Susan Deacon.

She said: "The potential benefits of e-learning are great. The sharing of international medical knowledge, the breaking down of geographical barriers to learning, and more on-the-job learning are just some of the exciting possibilities."

SHEFC has already pledged £90,000 towards the feasibility study and is keen to see a positive success.

The council's chief executive Professor John Sizer, said: "The study will investigate whether the project is academically and financially viable and whether getting involved would be in the interests of the development of medical education in Scotland and internationally."