Graduate Programs in Surgical Education
Course Introduction
The Graduate Programs in Surgical Education are a new suite of qualifications offered by the University of Melbourne Medical School through its Department of Surgery and Medical Education Unit in partnership with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
This suite of programs addresses the specialised needs of teaching and learning in a modern surgical environment. The programs’ content recognises the unique challenges that characterise the clinical settings and the advanced technologies that are increasingly important in surgery and surgical training. Effective teaching skills are essential attributes for educators responsible for training the next generation of surgeons in the complex sets of skills required for safe surgical practice.
The programs allow surgeons to gain formal skills in teaching and educational scholarship. The content reflects critical issues in the broader education community together with specific challenges for surgical education – the role of regulatory bodies, balancing clinical service with training, ethical imperatives for simulation-based education, safer working conditions including safe hours and more.
Download the Intake 2, 2012 Course Brochure
Objectives
The aims of the program are to:
- Provide a theoretical background in the principles of education
- Explore the contexts in which medical education is delivered
- Develop teaching skills to support learning in clinical and other professional settings
- Develop skills to create robust educational programs
- Introduce methodologies for educational research
- Develop educational scholarship
- Encourage and enable students to apply all of the above to surgical education
The subjects will provide participants with a thorough grounding in theory and practice of medical and surgical education.
Students successfully completing the program will be able to:
- Discuss key educational theories
- Use educational theory to enhance teaching and learning activities
- Describe relevant policy, settings, format and processes of surgical education
- Evaluate contemporary approaches to surgical education
- Describe simulation-based education relevant to surgical training
- Constructively critique educational practices
- Appraise educational technology including e-learning
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in a range of educational settings (as learner, peer, teacher, examiner)
- Design innovative educational programs in response to real world challenges
- Describe approaches to researching surgical education
- Appreciate the role of research in developing the field
- Exercise appropriate professional judgment in the area of surgical education
Reference Groups
The Program is supported by a core leadership group, with guidance from local and international reference groups.
Program Directors
Prof Chris Christophi
T: +61 (0)3 9496 4580
E: c.christophi@unimelb.edu.au
Prof Debra Nestel
T: +61 (0)3 9496 4580
E: debra.nestel@monash.edu
Program Structure
Program delivery includes core and elective subjects delivered through a combination of workshops, distance and online delivery modes. The program will expose participants to a range of educational methods, which in turn increase program flexibility, allowing these studies to be balanced with clinical commitments.
Students have the option of enrolling in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Surgical Education based on their own educational needs.
| Graduate Certificate | Successful completion of the four core subjects |
| Graduate Diploma | Successful completion of the core subjects required for the Graduate Certificate PLUS 50 points of study selected from the electives. Students intending to enrol in the Masters program must include Research Methods in Surgical Education as one of their electives |
| Masters |
Successful completion of the subjects required for the Graduate Diploma , including the Compulsory Subject Research Methods in Surgical Education PLUS completion of the Minor Thesis – Surgical Education |
|
Core Subjects |
|
|---|---|
|
12.5 points |
|
| Learning and Teaching in Surgical Practice |
12.5 points |
| Educational Theory for Surgical Training |
12.5 points |
| Curriculum Design in Surgical Education |
12.5 points |
|
Compulsory Subject for Master’s Students |
|
|---|---|
| Research Methods in Surgical Education |
12.5 points |
| Elective Subjects | |
|---|---|
| Recruitment and Selection in Surgery |
12.5 points |
| Teaching Professional Skills in Surgery |
12.5 points |
| Managing Underperforming Trainees |
12.5 points |
| Simulation in Surgical Education |
12.5 points |
| Teaching Surgical Science |
12.5 points |
| Educational Leadership in Surgery |
12.5 points |
| Assessment and Evaluation in Surgery |
12.5 points |
| Research Project | |
|---|---|
| Minor Thesis – Surgical Education |
50 points |
Program Delivery & Time Commitment
The program will be delivered part-time, with students expected to enrol in 2 subjects each semester. All subjects (with the exception of the Minor Thesis) will be taught using multiple delivery modes. This will include one full day (8 hours) workshop plus self-paced learning activities (e.g. webinars, moderated interactive discussions, and tutorials) spread over 13-week semesters. The self-paced learning activities will accessed through an online learning management system. Students should expect to commit approximately 8 - 10 hours per week to each subject. This includes formal learning activities, reading and private study.
Venue
Workshops will be conducted at the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, 250-290 Spring Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002 Australia.
Intake 1, 2012 Subject Delivery Dates
Semester 1, 2012
Subject Start: February 6
Subject Study Day: February 13
Online Tutorial: (including assessment) in the weeks of either March 19 or March 26
Essay Assessment due: May 11
Learning and Teaching in Surgical Practice
Subject Start: February 6
Subject Study Day: February 14
Online Tutorial: (including assessment) in the weeks of either April 2 or April 9
Hurdle Assessment (reflective writing) due: April 21
Essay Teaching Plan due: April 27
Essay Reflection due: May 25
Semester 2, 2012
Educational Theory for Surgical Training
Subject Start: July 23
Subject Study Day: July 30
Online Tutorial: (including assessment) in the weeks of either September 10 or 17
Hurdle Assessment (reflective writing) due: September 28
Essay Assessment due: October 27
Curriculum Design in Surgical Education
Subject Start: July 23
Subject Study Day: July 31
Essay Assessment (Educational program design for surgical training) due: August 24
Hurdle Assessment (reflective writing) due: August 31
Essay Assessment due: November 2
Intake 2, 2012 Subject Delivery Dates
Semester 2, 2012
Subject Start: July 30
Subject Study Day: August 6
Online Tutorial: (including assessment) in the weeks of either September 10 or September 17
Essay Assessment due: October 26
Learning and Teaching in Surgical Practice
Subject Start: July 30
Subject Study Day: August 7
Online Tutorial: (including assessment) in the weeks of either September 24 or October 1
Hurdle Assessment (reflective writing) due: October 13
Essay Teaching Plan due: October 19
Essay Reflection due: November 16
Semester 1, 2013
Educational Theory for Surgical Training
Subject Start: February 11
Subject Study Day: February 18
Online Tutorial: (including assessment) in the weeks of either April 2 or 8
Hurdle Assessment (reflective writing) due: April 19
Essay Assessment due: May 17
Curriculum Design in Surgical Education
Subject Start: February 11
Subject Study Day: February 19
Essay Assessment (Educational program design for surgical training) due: March 15
Hurdle Assessment (reflective writing) due: March 22
Essay Assessment due: May 24
Applications are now open for Intake 2, 2012 and will close on 4th June 2012.
Entry Requirements
All applications for entry will be assessed by the Selection Committee who will evaluate the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue the program. The following criteria specify entry requirements:
- A Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery or equivalent qualification; plus,
- At least two years of relevant clinical work experience. It is important that students have an appreciation of clinical practice before they commence studies for this course;
- Meet the English language requirements of the University of Melbourne. International Medical Graduates are also expected to meet the English language requirements of the Medical Board of Australia (an IELTS score of 7 in all four elements – reading, writing, listening and speaking).
The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and tests and may call for referee reports or employer references to assist in the selection process.
There are limited places in this course and in the event that there insufficient places for all applicants, a Selection Committee, chaired by the Academic Coordinator, will evaluate all applications for this program before making an offer to successful applicants.
Course Fee
In 2012 the fees for this course are $2,350 per 12.5 point subject.
Fee-Help
Fee-Help is available to Australian Citizens only. For information regarding Fee-Help, please visit the government website http://www.goingtouni.gov.au
For further information contact
Lesley King
Project Manager
University of Melbourne Commercial
The University of Melbourne
Level 3, 442 Auburn Road
Hawthorn, Vic 3122 Australia
T: +61 3 9810 3247
F: +61 3 9810 3149
E: ljking@unimelb.edu.au
W: www.mccp.unimelb.edu.au
Application Process
New applications are managed by the Student Services Team. Visit the How to Apply section for the application form and further instructions
The following documents must be submitted with the application form:
- Curriculum vitae outlining your tertiary education and relevant professional experience
- Certified copies or original academic transcripts (for more information see Academic Transcripts)