Newsroom
The increasing interest in establishing medical schools in Cyprus has led the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education to outline key requirements for their operation.
The agency emphasizes that any legislative amendments must align with World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) standards and principles of environmental, social, and governance responsibility. A crucial criterion for accreditation is a medical school’s affiliation with a university hospital, either through ownership or formal agreements, ensuring adequate clinical training facilities, specialized departments, and research capabilities.
Clinical training must be supervised by qualified physicians with at least 5–10 years of teaching experience and medical specialty certification. The agency also underscores the importance of maintaining appropriate student-to-instructor ratios—1:10–15 for theoretical courses and 1:4–6 for practical training.
Medical schools must also foster research engagement among faculty, participate in international collaborations, and provide state-of-the-art infrastructure, including simulation labs with AI and VR technology. Environmental and social responsibility are also key, with hospitals required to adopt sustainable practices and ensure training is accessible to all students.
Additionally, institutions must provide modern classrooms, access to global medical databases, and affordable student housing with quality dining options. The curriculum should integrate the latest medical advancements, blending theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience.
These stringent criteria aim to uphold the highest standards in medical education while fostering research, sustainability, and social inclusivity.
With information from Ygeia Watch.
