Educational Research and Scholarship in India: The Way Forward

Medical education research (MER) aims to improve the practice of medical education by applying the theory of educational research. Internationally, medical education research has grown exponentially and has established itself as a distinct field. In contrast, in India, the medical faculty is either bogged down by clinical responsibilities, or is busy with biomedical research. The recent initiatives such as implementation of competency-based medical education (CBME) for medical undergraduates, and push coming from regulatory agencies besides National Education Policy have become game changers. The emerging concept of scholarship, takes in to account all scholarly activities in a fair manner. The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) is helpful in connecting teaching with better patient care outcomes through evidence based approach. It also promotes a community of practice to boost research and publication activities. Finally, there is a need to enlarge the scope of research from treating sick children to promoting total wellbeing, which requires interdisciplinary and interprofessional approach to research.