Is the accreditation in medical education in Korea an opportunity or a burden?

Abstract

The accreditation process is both an opportunity and a burden for medical schools in Korea. The line that separates the two is based on how medical schools recognize and utilize the accreditation process. In other words, it would be a burden on the medical school if the medical school recognized the accreditation process as merely a formal procedure or a means to maintain accreditation status for medical education. However, if a medical school acknowledges the positive value of the accreditation process, it can be both an opportunity and a tool for developing medical education. The accreditation process's educational value is to improve the quality, equity, and efficiency of medical education and increase the options of choice. For the accreditation process to contribute to medical education development, accrediting agencies and medical schools must first be recognized as partners of an "educational alliance" working together towards common goals. Secondly, clear guidelines on the accreditation standards should be periodically reviewed and shared. Finally, a formative evaluation using self-evaluation must be introduced to utilize the accreditation process as an opportunity to develop medical education. This evaluation system could be developed through collaboration among medical schools, academic societies for medical education, and the accrediting authority.