The Medical Curriculum at KU Leuven - University of Leuven

In this paper we reflect on the evolution of medical education, with the medical curriculum at the University of Leuven as a concrete example. Formally, the Leuven curriculum follows a bachelor’s and master’s structure that leads to the degree of Medical Doctor after which further advanced training is required to become a practising physician. The Leuven curriculum takes the CanMEDS model as its educational framework. Embedding the CanMEDs roles within the curriculum is achieved using four learning pathways (Knowledge and Fundamentals of Medicine; Scientific Training; The Physician in Society; Skills and Communication) that run across the bachelor’s and master’s programmes. A stepwise approach is adopted whereby students progressively acquire the required competences to translate medical knowledge into evidence-based clinical practice. The learning process initially takes place in a simple and controlled environment, e.g. lectures or demonstrations with (simulated) patients. As the programme progresses, learning and assessment occur in ever more authentic medical situations, e.g. during the clerkships. In the future it will be important to capture new developments in e.g. education technology, health care organisation and patient involvement, and incorporate them into the medical curriculum. In this way we may fulfil our ambition to train medical doctors that are ready to participate in the 21 st century health care system and take their responsibility towards both the individual patient and public health care.status: publishe