IFME 2023-2024

Welcome to the IFME 2023-24 pages.

We are planning to run this year’s programme in a blended way with some face-to-face sessions and other sessions delivered remotely.  However, if there are any social distancing measures with which we need to comply, with we will inform participants at our earliest opportunity and revert to delivering all sessions remotely.

 

Applications for Group 1 will be open from 1st May to 3rd July 2023.

Group 1 – Anyone who is currently teaching University of Cambridge undergraduate medical students.  This could be as a current undergraduate clinical supervisor or as a teacher in another capacity.  Please note that you need to remain teaching for the duration of the IFME programme (September 2023-March 2024) and to be teaching on a regular, preferably weekly basis to be eligible to apply.

Group 2 – Newly appointed undergraduate clinical supervisors (appointed after the August hospital rotation). Applications for Group 2 will open from 7th August to 9th September 2023, or until we reach capacity.

As always, places on the programme are offered on a first come, first served basis.

 

Please read all the information carefully before applying, particularly the minimum attendance requirements.  Please also make a note of the teaching dates – it is a good idea to note all of them at this stage.  You can view these on this page: 2023-2024 dates.   Click here to go to the Application Form.

 

Introduction

The Integrated Foundations of Medical Education (IFME) programme is run by the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.

It has been designed for clinicians from Foundation Year 2 (FY2) upwards who are teaching University of Cambridge medical students at undergraduate level.

Such as:

• GP/Primary care teachers
• Hospital based FY2 grade and above
• Cambridge and all regional teaching centres including the School’s regional partner hospital Trusts and GP practices
• Doctors and other health care professionals who are involved in teaching
• Undergraduate Clinical Supervisors (Addenbrookes-based, Addenbrookes-based AND in Paediatrics, Regional – based in any of the School of Clinical Medicine’s partner regional hospitals).  For more information about this role please visit:  Clinical Supervisors (Undergraduate).

 

Aims

The main aim of this part-time programme is to enable clinical teachers, who are either relatively new to higher education teaching and are involved in a small range of teaching and learning support activities, or for those who have taught for some time, to develop their understanding and skills about medical education.

It is designed to develop the participant’s knowledge and understanding of the theoretical basis of teaching and learning, and is also designed to allow participants to put teaching into the context of their role.

The other aims of the programme are to improve the participant’s ability both to deliver their clinical teaching and to accumulate insight into the:

• scholarship
• research  and
• professional values

required of medical educators.

 

By the end of the programme, participants should:

• have developed and be able to demonstrate awareness of models of teaching
• have developed and be able to demonstrate learning, professional values and evaluation of teaching practice

(as appropriate to descriptor 1 of the UK professional standards framework)

• have developed and be able to make credible links between:  personal observations, published material and models of teaching and learning

 

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the programme you need to be involved in the teaching of The University of Cambridge undergraduate medical students.  Proof of this is required on application.  Please see Eligibility and Entry Requirements page for more details.

We are accepting applications from anyone who is teaching University of Cambridge undergraduate medical students from the time of application and during the period of the IFME programme.  If you are in the category of applicant who is required to provide the contact details of someone who can verify that you are currently teaching, on application, the person will receive an automatic e-mail asking them to confirm your teaching.

What is involved?

The main aspects are the following:

• Two half-day core taught seminars to give a grounding in some basic principles
• Three shorter taught seminars focussing on different aspects of teaching (of which you must attend at least two)
• Self-reflection and Teaching Observations AND
• A written assignment

When and where does the programme take place?

The programme is run once a year and lasts 6-9 months.  The facilitated teaching sessions run throughout the Michaelmas and Lent terms (usually September to March) and will comprise a combination of face-to-face teaching in Cambridge, remote sessions which will require some personal pre-session preparation as well as interactive live sessions and follow-up learning activities, and online learning.

 

What can participants gain from the programme?

The programme’s taught sessions have been approved by the Royal College of Physicians for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

In addition to attending the minimum required number of taught sessions (see Attendance Requirements page) participants are required to pass a Final Written Assignment.  Details of the assignment can be found in the Attendance Requirements page.

Successful completion of the programme will result in the award of Associate Fellowship of the

Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

 

Click here to go to the Eligibility and Entry Requirements for the School of Clinical Medicine IFME programme.

Click here to go to the Application Form.