Transnational clinical teacher training: Lessons learned and cross-cultural implications

• Main Authors: Ardi Findyartini, Justin Bilszta, Jayne Lysk, Diantha Soemantri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National University of Singapore 2019-09-01
• Series: The Asia Pacific Scholar
• Subjects: Faculty Development; Transnational; Collaboration; Cross-cultural; Clinical Teacher
• Online Access: http://theasiapacificscholar.org/transnational-clinical-teacher-training-lessons-learned-and-cross-cultural-implications/

Introduction: Transnational faculty development initiatives (FDIs) constitute a strategy to improve the quality of the teaching staff in medical schools. This study evaluates feedback from participants of an FDI designed as part of a collaborative transnational partnership between researchers of an Australian and an Indonesian medical school. Methods: The FDI was a three-day program that explored four major topics: effective clinical teaching, methods of teaching and supervising in clinical settings, assessment of clinical learners and clinical education in practice. These topics were identified through comprehensive needs analysis and curriculum blueprinting exercises. Each participant (n= 27) submitted one piece of reflective writing and one critical appraisal or teaching/assessment assignment on each topic. Using a thematic analysis approach, two researchers independently reviewed each participant’s written assignments to identify emerging themes. Results: Five core themes were identified. Most revolved around the benefits of the training, especially the learning issues that the participants identified during the FDI and how they could be applied to their local contexts. Additional themes covered participants’ views on the delivery of the FDI and cross-cultural implications. Peer observation of teaching, qualitative assessment and feedback provision were also significant issues raised by the participants. Conclusions: This study presents important lessons for cross-cultural adaptation of best practices in the development and delivery of transnational FDIs.