Developing Comprehensive Course Evaluation Guidelines: A Step towards Organizing Program Evaluation Activities in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background and Objective: One of the potential strategies for ensuring the quality of educational programs is adopting a systematic approach to its evaluation. Current evidence indicates the lack of high quality program evaluation activities in the field of medical education. The aim of this study was to review the current status of program evaluation activities in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and formulate guidelines to promote program evaluation activities at the University level. Methods: A survey was conducted to investigate the current conditions of program evaluation using a questionnaire in ۲۰۱۲. Then, the comprehensive course evaluation guidelines, consisting of ۲۲ items, were developed based on literature review, survey results, and experts’ opinions. Finally, each affiliated school developed its own evaluation plan. The evaluation taskforce reviewed evaluation plans using a checklist. Results: Using one tool or resource, ۹ schools (۹۰%) conducted course evaluation at least once. The views of students, faculty, staff or alumni were used occasionally. Moreover, ۴ schools (۴۰%) reported the evaluation results. After reviewing ۱۴ submitted course plans based on the checklist, ۵۱ feedbacks were provided. Most and least feedbacks were related to evaluation design and implementation and evaluation infrastructure, respectively. Conclusion: The process of developing guidelines and plans resulted in stakeholders reaching a common understanding of course evaluation, and in turn, creating evaluation capacity and more accountability.

Keywords:

Program evaluation , Ongoing evaluation , Evaluation system , Comprehensive evaluation