Student research as part of medical education: a new system of student research work and awards
When adopting the new Academic Regulations on Graduate Programmes, the School paid particular attention to providing the basis and conditions for the development of the new system of student research and awards (see Articles 74-79 of the Academic Graduate Regulations. The School firmly believes that the professional and research work of students is an integral part of medical education and that direct involvement of students in professional and research work is a very important and integral part of the study programme, which encourages the development of critical reasoning and creativity, the habit of independent education, and the acquisition of additional knowledge and research skills. Creative discipline, necessary to successfully execute the project and write a student research paper, enables the students to become doctors while remaining academic citizens, regardless of whether they will later engage in clinical practice, research, teaching, or administrative work in the health care sector. Through project execution and writing, the students learn the scientific approach and methods from within, as active participants, while learning to set up a scientific hypothesis, collect and evaluate data, communicate to others the results and conclusions of their own research, and deliberate and conclude in a critical and scientific way throughout their professional career. Therefore, the School encourages all students to participate in research and professional work in the academic community, and expects the heads of research programs and projects and other teachers to enable interested students to participate in the work of the research and professional projects of the School. In 2007, a new Dean’s Award was introduced for the best student research work, while the Committee for Student Research Papers drafted a new proposal for a comprehensive system of student research work and rewards (public debates and then adoption at the Faculty Council are set during January/February). By introducing this new system, the School aims to achieve three strategic goals, i.e., to systematically develop awareness of three key features of modern science and develop appropriate habits and approaches in students, as follows:
- Develop student awareness that successful research work is based on personal excellence, creativity, and perseverance, with the adoption of the highest ethical and professional standards of individual work.
- Develop student awareness that today successful research work is also based on teamwork and open cooperation of competitive individuals.
- Develop student awareness that, as student researchers, they are part of a wider scientific community, which shares specific common values and ideals, and in a specific and very important way contributes to the general development of society and the betterment of humanity.
Accordingly, the School seeks to develop various forms of encouraging and rewarding successful student research and professional papers, each of which is appropriate for achieving one of the three mentioned strategic goals. For example, individual excellence is encouraged by the Dean's or Rector's Award for the Best Research Paper which can only be awarded to papers made by one student. On the other hand, teamwork and student co-authorship are encouraged by other forms of rewards (substitution of elective courses with student research, additional points in future applications for employment, or in the selection of students for international exchanges, etc.). Finally, the development of the community and recognizable professional and academic identity is encouraged by organizing and supporting student research days and the praiseworthy student scientific congresses (e.g., CROSS and ZIMS).