The Tlemcen Faculty of Medicine's approach to social responsibility: commitments and achievements

Abstract

At a time when healthcare systems around the world, particularly in developing countries, are facing substantial challenges, the social responsibility of medical schools is taking on vital importance. This article looks at the Tlemcen Faculty of Medicine's proactive approach to these challenges, aligned with the ten strategic axes of the Global Consensus on Social Responsibility. It examines the commitments and achievements of our faculty, focusing on two areas: adapting training to the health needs of the population and improving the effectiveness of results-based training adapted to the new roles of health professionals.

These two strategic areas have received particular attention from our faculty, which has been involved in this process since 2012 and has embarked on a process of reflection and action to strengthen this mission. The strategy adopted encompasses a number of initiatives, including the creation of a medical education office, which coincides with a process of curriculum redesign, and a clinical epidemiology unit to strengthen research skills.

Efforts were stepped up in 2014, when we worked to implement a strategy to develop teachers' teaching skills. This led, in 2016, to the introduction of the first Certificate in Medical Pedagogy, which has since trained more than 100 teachers and introduced innovative teaching methods. These methods enable students to engage more effectively with patients and take into account the social determinants of health, while enhancing their public health skills through the problem-based approach and community placements.

An evaluation plan is underway, based on the Kirk Patrick model, to measure the degree of impact of our actions. Preliminary results show that the quality of our teaching and scientific output has improved in recent years.