The second stage of the final certification of higher education applicants started on May 10 at ONMedU

According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 316 of March 19, 2022 “Some issues of certification of applicants for higher education at the second (master’s) level in the field of knowledge 22 –“Health Care” “in martial law” remote format.

On May 10, the final attestation began – the objective structured clinical examination (OSCI) in the speciality “Medicine”.

By the order of the rector of ONMedU Valerii Zaporozhan “On carrying out the final attestation of students of medical faculties № 1 and № 2 2021-2022 academic year” 500 6th year students were admitted to the exam who met all the requirements of the educational-professional program -qualification level “Master” in “Medicine”.

Under martial law, an objective structured clinical trial is conducted in synchronous video conferencing on the Microsoft Teams platform.

Employees of the training and production complex of innovative technologies of training and continuing education (TPCITTCE) provided technical support for the final certification. Applicants have access to the exam from any gadget that has both video and audio communication, using all possible means (wired and mobile Internet). The main thing is that the quality of the video image allows the examiner to identify the applicant, and the quality of the audio communication – a clear sound in the opposite direction (questions – answers to questions). The communication session is fully recorded from the moment the examiner connects with the applicant until the end of the exam (until the examiner loses contact with the applicant).

In the event of technical problems that prevent adequate communication or disconnection during the video conference, the applicant is asked another question when resuming communication.

Assessment of answers to questions is carried out on a national 4-point scale and is displayed after the exam.

Issues concerning appeals, if any, are resolved outside the exam by the “Regulations on the organization of the educational process by applicants for higher education at ONMedU” based on a video analysis of the exam.

Key stakeholders play a key role in preparing and conducting an objective structured clinical trial. In particular, the guarantor of the educational-professional program (EPP) “Medicine” of the second (master’s) level doctor of medical sciences, professor, vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work Valeria Marichereda took an active part in the preparation and control of the final certification as it is the guarantor who is a key person responsible for the quality of the educational process in a particular area of ​​training of applicants at the university. Such control is carried out to establish the actual compliance of the level of training of graduates with the program learning outcomes, which are reflected in the educational program “Medicine”, followed by awarding the degree of “Master of Medicine” and the issuance of a diploma. The guarantor of the EPP paid special attention to ensuring clarity of forms of control measures and criteria for assessing academic achievement of higher education students during certification, as well as ensuring the objectivity of assessment and compliance with academic norms and principles of academic integrity reflected in the Code of Academic Ethics and Relations of the university community of ONMedU by all participants of the attestation control.

The head of the final attestation commission is responsible for the quality of the OSCI, so their achievements in science and teaching were taken into account when selecting candidates for this position. Alla Volyanska, MD, Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was elected the Chairman of the Graduation Certification Commission in Medicine. She is an expert in the Quality Test Center, a participant in many educational projects, including international ones, and a member of the working group second (master’s) level “Medicine”.

According to her, applicants for higher education show decent results in mastering the practical skills needed by a doctor.

“But we expected it. Training of applicants to acquire practical skills defined in the Standard EPP “Medicine” (2021) was organized based on the training and production complex of innovative technologies of teaching and continuing education (TPCITTCE) in December last year on the initiative and participation of deans of faculties. Students in groups of three had an opportunity to practice practical skills directly on the mannequins under the supervision of teachers, which are used in the tasks of OSCI.

Employees of the complex have developed a short video instruction on the behaviour of applicants for the distance exam. Also, on the departments’ information stands and web pages, students could get acquainted with the list of practical skills and situational tasks submitted for the exam in each discipline, criteria for assessing knowledge, and the procedure and regulations for conducting compiling final certification. Teachers of graduating departments constantly held consultations on the compilation of OSCI. I believe that the preparation for the exam and the exam itself are at a high level. And all these thanks to the university administration, teachers, examiners, moderators, examination groups, “said Alla Volyanska.

After graduation, the administration invites applicants for higher education to take part in a survey conducted by questionnaires. The questionnaires were specially developed by the university sociologists to assess the process of conducting the objective structured clinical examination by university graduates. The results of this year’s graduates’ survey will be used to improve the process of conducting an objective structured clinical examination and improve the quality of the educational process at the university, which is the main task of the university administration.

This year, the practice of attracting external stakeholders to participate in the final certification is interesting. Heads of Odesa medical institutions, both public and private, were invited to participate in the final certification as the guarantor of the educational and professional program. Their role is one of the most important bricks in the process of ensuring the quality of medical education, as they are the ones who will accept university graduates into professional activities in the future. Thus, the university allows them to assess the competencies acquired by students of the educational program by modern professional requirements, which in turn makes our graduates competitive in the labour market of health professionals.