Education for Capability: an Example of Curriculum Change from Medical Education

Abstract

Abstract Monumental challenges confront medical educators as they design curricula which will produce physicians for the last part of this century. These challenges include new knowledge about the factors which determine health and illness, a worldwide maldistribution of health services with physician over‐supply in many countries, and student discontent with the content and methods of medical education. A case study is presented of curriculum change in the medical education programme at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. The reasons, processes and results of this change are presented, with a particular emphasis on how this programme is ‘educating for capability’. The paper concludes with a proposed approach to curriculum design for medical education; questions are posed about defining the needed competencies, fostering their development and measuring their achievement. The philosophy and principles which underpin this approach to change in education are offered in the hope that they may assist chan...