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C21 at a glance

C21 is a complex and ambitious project to create a truly world class medical programme which will attract, train and retain the very best doctors for Wales. All medical schools modify their courses constantly, sometimes in quite small ways. Periodically, however, a more fundamental overhaul is found to be necessary.

    There are a number of internal and external factors - GMC’s Tomorrow’s Doctor 2009, the changing needs of clinical services in Wales, the challenges of the ‘For our Future’ policy, and National Student Survey results - that make change and curriculum development essential. C21 incorporates five work streams:
  1. the improvement of the existing MB BCh;
  2. the development of a completely new programme to start in 2013-14;
  3. a formal four-year graduate entry programme to strengthen our widening access and science study themes;
  4. a collaborative project between the Medical School and the Postgraduate Deanery to ‘harmonise’ the final year of the undergraduate programme and the first year of the Foundation Programme;
  5. realignment of our six-year undergraduate programme to respond to the needs of students from unconventional academic backgrounds
C21 consists of 4 co-ordinated projects:
  • Existing programme enhancement
  • Curriculum review and development
  • Resources
  • Quality management

Projects

Existing Programme Enhancement

Curriculum Review and Development

  • Phase 1
  • Phase 2
  • Harmonisation
  • Flexible Routes to Medicine
  • Y Meddyg Cymreig
  • Discipline Focused Groups
  • Community Based Learning
  • Doctoring
  • Clinical Skills & Simulation
  • Scientist and Scholar

Quality Management

  • Governance and Quality
  • Feedback
  • Assessment
  • Student Support
  • Admissions & Recruitment
  • Modularisation

Resources

  • Infrastructure & Facilities
  • Management & Staff Development
  • Funding
  • E-learning

Stages

C21 will run from September 2010 to September 2013 across four progressive stages:

Initiation (September 2010 – March 2011)

Appointment of C21, development of C21 documentation and project briefs, and completion of scoping exercises and pilot projects.

Exploration (March – September 2011)

Benchmarking of arrangements, facilities and content of the curriculum and the development of best practice and guidelines to direct the development and implementation stages.

Development (September 2011 – September 2012)

Detailed development of the curriculum, supporting mechanism, policies, infrastructure and resources

Implementation (September 2012 – September 2013)

Validation of the programme and the introduction of supporting processes, frameworks and infrastructure.

Objectives

C21 has 11 objectives with 65 measurable targets and, once completed, it will significantly benefit students and doctors in training, clinical practice, and the wider community, creating a world leading medical programme, recognised internationally for its quality and attracting the very best doctors for Wales.

For students

  • teaching of the highest standards
  • an inspiring learning experience
  • well-regarded by the NHS
  • a culture of excellence, accountability and reward

For clinical practice

  • location of choice for the best students
  • a magnet for high quality clinical specialists, family doctors and researchers
  • internationally recognised for the quality of training and teaching
  • to build collaborative links

For the Wider Community

  • positive relationship between clinical outcomes, clinical care, and teaching
  • enhancement of clinical service in Wales
  • internationally recognised for the clinical and scientific quality of our graduates