January 2022
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme has been re-accredited by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA). This process was conducted in the scope of the 5-year re-accreditation requirement for all programmes of study. CYQAA holds Recognition Status by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and the MD programme was assessed against the rigorous standards for Basic Medical Education of WFME. The evaluation was conducted by an external evaluation committee (EEC) of international experts in medical education, a representative from the Cyprus Medical Council and a student representative.
The process was successfully completed in December 2021, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. This is an important milestone for the MD programme, which reaffirms the delivery of a high-quality medical programme. The WFME standards that we were assessed against are comprehensive, and encompass all aspects of medical education organized around nine themes, namely Mission and Outcomes, Educational Programme, Assessment, Students, Academic Staff/Faculty, Educational Resources, Programme Evaluation, Governance and Administration and Continuous Renewal. These are based on global medical education expert consensus on best practice requirements. This global mark of recognition further enables our graduates to pursue a career in their chosen field of medicine around the world. For example, beginning in 2024, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will only extend certification to international medical graduates of medical programmes that meet WFME standards. ECFMG certification is required for international medical graduates to pursue residency in the United States and thus practise medicine.
In line with our mission, we are committed to producing competent graduates, who can pursue further training in their field of choice. The re-accreditation process has allowed us to further improve the MD programme and to continue its development. This ensures that the MD programme continues to meet the demands of medical education and the profession globally.