Twelve tips on setting up a new medical school

Not many set up a new medical school, so those that do usually do it only once. Thus most have no personal previous experience to guide them.

To give those setting up a new school some broad issues to think about as they set about their task.

The tips were derived from personal experience in the UK and in Africa.

The 12 tips identified are engage closely with the parent university from the outset; decide what the medical school is going to concentrate on first; agree on the overall aim of the school; decide who 'owns' the course; agree on the type of pedagogy to be employed; ensure good alignment between the aims, outcomes, learning framework and assessment; plan the assessment along with the rest of the course; make sure the school facilities are sufficient and appropriate to support the aims of the course; appoint the right staff; plan the research programme early; plan the co-ordination between the university and the health services at all levels; communicate, communicate, communicate.

It is hoped that these suggestions will be widely applicable to different contexts and assist those in the exciting task of setting up a new school.