FIMA Year Book 2009 - Federation of Islamic Medical Associations

Quality Assurance and AccreditationIn Medical Education: An Islamic PerspectiveMohammad Iqbal Khan*, and Anis AhmedAbstract:Quality control in higher education has become an essential part of the educational processat all levels. Most of the educational objectives can be quantified and standardized usingquality assurance mechanisms. Market forces and globalization’ are the reasons for theincreasing emphasis on the concept of quality and its impact on the providers of educationprograms. There is increasing need to understand quality assurance and different modalitiesof quality control. In higher education, hybridization of two or three quality control models isrequired to address the most important issues of learning. Quality control demands the crispapplication of tools which must assess and quantify all three basic domains of learning i.e.cognitive, psychomotor and effective domains. Based on these studies a quality managementstrategy is designed for every program. Based on quality management studies, a qualityassurance process is designed which is a continuous process and is frequently modifiedaccording to the emerging situations. A quality culture needs to assure quality controlmechanisms at all levels. It must address the requirements of infrastructure, services, humanresources, selection of students, curriculum, instructional strategies, assessment system,research quality, graduates’ as well as alumni’s performance, student reporting system,academic counsel and faculty development. Benchmarks have become essential tools toimprove the overall look of the institution. Islamic perspectives and concepts of excellence(ihsan) have been greatly emphasized in the Qur’an and the tradition (Sunnah) of ProphetMuhammad (PBUH). Work ethics, responsibility, accountability, sense of being answerable,not only in this life, but also in the hereafter and rewards of proper performance with utmosteffort and best manners makes a believer strives for the best. Responsibilities need to bebestowed according to the best available abilities to achieve the best possible results. On thebasis of Qur’anic teachings and the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH), certain criteria arededuced which every Muslim medical educationist must acquire to achieve and maintain therequired quality assurance in medical education.Keywords: Quality control, quality assurance, medical education, accreditation, Ihsan,excellence, Islamic perspectives.*Mohammad Iqbal KhanMD; FRCS (Eng); FRCS; (Glasg.)Professor and head of the Department of SurgeryIslamic International Medical CollegeRiphah International University Islamabad- PakistanE-mail: mikhandr@gmail.comFIMA YearBook 2009155