Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) Courses at 12th APMEC

With the increasing professionalisation of medical education, the need for doctors and other healthcare professionals to have training in teaching is widely recognized. Whilst many institutions worldwide offer Diploma and Masters courses in medical education, there is a lack of accredited basic level courses. The ESME Programme has been designed to meet the need for an entry level teaching qualification and will be of particular interest to teachers who are engaging with medical education for the first time. It will also be valuable for more experienced teachers who have been given some new responsibilities or assignment relating to teaching or assessment, or who wish to have an introduction to the theory underpinning the practice of teaching. It has been designed in the context that all doctors in any branch of medicine or field of practice are likely to have some teaching responsibilities for undergraduates, postgraduates, peers, other healthcare workers or patients.  ESME’s novel course structure combines a purpose-built course on teaching with an international medical education Conference.

ESME is accredited by AMEE and approved by an international Advisory Board.

Since the introduction of the original ESME course in 2005, several other courses have been developed to meet specific needs:

• Essential Skills in Medical Education Assessment (ESMEA)
• Research Essential Skills in Medical Education (RESME)
• Essential Skills in Medical Education Simulation (ESMESim)
• Essential Skills in Computer-Enhanced Learning (ESCEL)
• Essential Skills in Continuing Education and Professional Development (ESCEPD)
• Essential Skills in Medical Education Online (ESME Online)
• Essential Skills in Medical Education Leadership Online (ESME Leadership Online)

ESME at 12th APMEC

Three ESME Courses are offered at this Conference:  (1) the original Essential Skills in Medical Education, (2) Essential Skills in Medical Education Assessment, and (3) Research Essential Skills in Medical Education. Please note: it is not possible to attend more than one course at APMEC due to timing conflicts.

1. Essential Skills in Medical Education

This broad-based course has been designed around a set of competencies that all practising teachers should possess. These include: Effective Teaching, Skilled Educational Planning and Informed Assessment and Evaluation.

ESME Course schedule

Wednesday 4 February 0830-1700 - ESME Pre-conference Session:  

• The Skilled Educational Planner: specifying and using learning outcomes and how the learning can be organised in a curriculum;
• The Effective Teacher: including some helpful basic principles relating to large and small group teaching; independent learning; the new learning technologies;

Thursday 5 February: Attend other Pre-conference Workshops (cost not included) 
Friday 6 February: Attend 12th APMEC Conference; lunch meeting with ESME Facilitators
Saturday 7 February: Attend 12th APMEC Conference; lunch meeting with ESME Facilitators

Sunday 8 February 0900-1230 - ESME Post-conference Session:

• The Informed Assessor/Evaluator: the key assessment principles and the tools available to the teacher;
• The Scholarly Educator, including Professionalism in medical education; Roles of the teacher; Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME);
• A look at the requirements for completion of the ESME Certificate in Medical Education.

ESME Course Faculty

Course Director:  Professor Ronald Harden, formerly Director of the Centre for Medical Education, University of Dundee, UK, and currently General Secretary/Treasurer of AMEE and Editor of Medical Teacher;
Faculty members:
Professor Matthew C. E. Gwee, Professorial Fellow and Chairman, International & Education Programmes, Medical Education Unit, Dean's Office, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University of Singapore
Dr Dujeepa Samarasekera, Deputy Head, Medical Education Unit, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System
Professor Tan Chay Hoon, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Member, Medical Education Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore & Consultant Psychiatrist, National University Hospital, National University Health System
Dr Zubair Amin, Deputy Head, Medical Education Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore & Consultant Neonatologist, National University Hospital

ESME Course Fee: US$ 575

Included in the course fee is:

• One full-day pre-conference session
• Two lunchtime discussion sessions with faculty during APMEC
• One half-day post-conference session
• Printed course programme
• Set of resource materials provided on USB memory stick
• Certificate of participation
• Optional submission and assessment of a post-course report, details of which will be given during the Course
• Award of ESME Certificate in Medical Education if the post-course report is assessed as meeting the requirements of the Certificate.

Please note: In addition to the ESME course fee, participants are required to register for 12th APMEC and pay the registration fee, and pay to attend one or two pre-conference workshops of their choice.

2. Essential Skills in Medical Education Assessment (ESMEA)

 The purpose of this course is to introduce participants to the principles of good assessment practice, and give them a good grasp of the essential skills which are critical in designing fair and robust assessment programmes. The course is aimed at participants new to assessment who wish to gain basic understanding and skills in assessment. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. It is a broad based course, giving a general overview, but participants can expect to gain understanding of the underlying principles of assessment and experience in designing assessments, writing test material and standard setting.
              
Course schedule

Wednesday 4 February: Attend other Pre-conference Workshops (cost not included) 

Thursday 5 February: 0830-1700 – ESMEA Pre-conference Session:  
Through a range of interactive lectures, presentations and small group work, the following topics will be covered:

• Principles of assessment
• Blueprinting
• Item writing (SBAs)
• OSCE principles
• Designing OSCE stations
• Introduction to WBAs

Friday 6 February: Attend 12th APMEC Conference; faculty members will be available for advice and discussion at the AMEE stand at lunchtime
Saturday 7 February: Attend 12th APMEC Conference; faculty members will be available for advice and discussion at the AMEE stand at lunchtime

Sunday 8 February 0900-1230 - ESMEA Post-conference Session:  

• Principles of Standard setting
• Angoff exercise
• Planning for implementing new assessment programmes

ESMEA Course Faculty

Professor Katharine Boursicot, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Designer and Course Leader)
Faculty member: Professor Trudie Roberts, University of Leeds, UK
Course Administrator: Mrs Pat Lilley, AMEE

ESMEA Course Fee: US$ 575

Included in the course fee is:

• One full-day pre-conference session
• One half-day post-conference session
• Printed course programme
• Set of resource materials provided on USB memory stick
• Certificate of participation
• Optional submission and assessment of a post-course report, details of which will be given during the Course
• Award of ESMEA Certificate in Medical Education if the post-course report is assessed as meeting the requirements of the Certificate.

Please note: In addition to the ESMEA course fee, participants are required to register for 12th APMEC and pay the registration fee, and pay to attend one or two pre-conference workshops of their choice.

3. Research Essential Skills in Medical Education (RESME)

The RESME Course provides an introduction to the essential principles and methods of conducting research in medical education: formulating research questions, choosing a research approach, selecting an appropriate global methodology and constructing a research plan. Through a series of short presentations and small group work, this highly interactive course will introduce basic concepts and principles using a variety of examples relating to theory. After completing the course, participants will have acquired a framework for understanding and application of essential concepts and principles for research in medical education. Within six months of completion of the course, participants may choose to submit a short research proposal on a topic of their interest describing the application of concepts and principles covered in the course, leading to award of the RESME Certificate in Medical Education.

RESME Course Schedule

Wednesday 4 February: Attend other Pre-conference Workshops (cost not included) 
Thursday 5 February 0830-1700: RESME Pre-conference Session 
Friday 6 February: Attend 12th APMEC Conference; lunch meeting with RESME Facilitators
Saturday 7 February: Attend 12th APMEC Conference; lunch meeting with RESME Facilitators; In-conference workshop

RESME Course Faculty

Charlotte Ringsted (Wilson Centre/University of Toronto, Canada (Course Leader)
Brian Hodges (Wilson Centre/University of Toronto, Canada)
Albert Scherpbier (Maastricht University, Netherlands)

RESME Course Fee: US$ 575

Included in the course fee is:

• One full-day pre-conference session
• Two lunchtime discussion sessions with faculty during APMEC
• One in-conference workshop
• Printed course programme
• Set of resource materials
• Certificate of participation
• Optional submission and assessment of a post-course report, details of which will be given during the Course
• Award of RESME Certificate in Medical Education if the post-course report is assessed as meeting the requirements of the Certificate.

Please note: In addition to the RESME course fee, participants are required to register for 12th APMEC and pay the registration fee, and pay to attend one or two pre-conference workshops of their choice.

How to register for ESME, ESMEA or RESME

Participants should register for either ESME, ESMEA or RESME by selecting the appropriate option on the 12th APMEC registration form. It is not possible to attend more than one course due to scheduling conflicts.

Questions about the Courses

For queries specifically about ESME, ESMEA or RESME course content please contact AMEE:

AMEE, 12 Airlie Place, Dundee DD1 4HJ, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1382 381953; Fax: +44 (0)1382 381987; www.amee.org   Email:

For all other questions please contact 12th APMEC registration: