A process of developing terminal competencies for an interdisciplinary training program

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Developing standardized competencies is crucial for interdisciplinary professional training.
• Existing training programs may lack a structured approach for defining terminal competencies across diverse disciplines.
• Ensuring graduates possess essential skills requires a systematic competency development process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a systematic process for developing terminal trainee competencies.
• To provide a framework applicable to interdisciplinary professional education programs.
• To facilitate the creation of effective training curricula across multiple disciplines.

Main Methods:

• Delineation of major steps involved in competency development.
• Description of the application of the process within a specific interdisciplinary program.
• Adaptation of the process for broader use in interdisciplinary training.

Main Results:

• A clear, step-by-step process for defining terminal trainee competencies was established.
• The described process was successfully applied to an interdisciplinary training program.
• The methodology proved adaptable for diverse interdisciplinary educational settings.

Conclusions:

• The developed process provides a robust model for creating terminal competencies in interdisciplinary training.
• This systematic approach enhances the quality and consistency of professional education across disciplines.
• The framework offers a valuable resource for educators designing interdisciplinary curricula.