The National Institute for Health Specialties has led the professional group workshop on competency framework for medical graduates during the International Conference on Quality Measurement in Health Professions Education, organized by Gulf Medical University during the period of February 25th – 27th ,2022.

A national competency framework task force was established by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with National Institute for Health Specialties and Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Education. The task force, led by Professor Mohi Eldin Magzoub, consists of medical education leaders from all medical schools across United Arab Emirates in addition to representatives from health authorities. The task force has put together a framework including competencies, learning outcomes, and enabling competencies and indicated strategies for dissemination and implementation of the competency framework.

To enhance awareness and engagement in the newly developed competency framework, Gulf Medical University organized the workshop as part of its international conference on quality measurement in health professions education. More than 200 medical educators and professionals from medical schools and health authorities attended the workshop.

The workshop was led and moderated by Dr Mohammed Al Houqani, Secretary General, NIHS. The attendees discussed the essential competencies for future doctors across UAE and proposed utilizing Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) to assess competencies. The workshop concluded that the competency framework will be essential in aligning educational programs and curricular to competencies needed by health services and thus ensuring quality medical graduates in the country. The task force will be ready to disseminate the new UAE medical competencies to all medical schools by September 2022.