A survey of the content of introductory biochemistry courses for different degree programs at Thai universities

Abstract

Introduction Recently, we discussed the history, current status, and future trends of biochemical education in Thailand, 1 but noted that a discussion of biochemical curricula was not within the scope of the article. We have now carried out a survey of biochemistry courses at Thai universities to provide baseline information for a summer workshop on Approaches towards the Development of Curriculum and Teaching in Biochemistry organized by the Biochemical Section of the Science Society of Thailand at Srinakarintrwirot University, Prasarnmitr Campus, Bangkok, 6-8 May, 1992. The purpose of the workshop was to stimulate biochemists at universities to reconsider their courses in the light of recent advances in knowledge and the first revisions in 10 years of the secondary school curriculum (where biochemistry comprises about 10-20% of the biology and chemistry curricula of the last three years). As noted earlier, the number of students undertaking degree programs in biochemistry at BSc, MSc and PhD levels is still rather limited, 1 so that much of the biochemistry teaching in Thailand at universities is carried out as a service to other degree programs. Accordingly, we have tried to analyze the data to provide information on the common features and the distinctive elements of the first (and often the only) biochemistry course taken by students of different degree programs: typically these courses would be called biochemistry, basic biochemistry or general biochemistry courses.