Work

Enhancing Pedagogical Skills in Medical Education: The Implementation of Objective Structured Teaching Encounters (OSTE) in Georgia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction The Objective Structured Teaching Encounter (OSTE) is a structured assessment method designed to enhance teaching competencies in medical education. This paper outlines the implementation of the OSTE into Georgian higher health professions education institutions through a collaborative project involving Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) and Georgian American University (GAU). Methodology The initiative involved establishing OSTE stations at TSMU’s Clinical Skills Training Centre and conducting a Training of Trainers (ToT) exercise led by international experts, Standardised scenarios and rubrics were developed to objectively assess teaching performance, and the approach was subsequently expanded to other universities in Georgia. After all the workshops, a survey was conducted to collect feedback from project participants. Results Survey results from 39 participants demonstrated high relevance and effectiveness of the workshops, with 97.4% agreeing on OSTE’s role in evaluating feedback skills and 91% expressing confidence in applying the techniques learnt. Qualitative feedback highlighted the value of immediate assessment and self-reflection, while suggestions for improvement emphasised the need for more practical elements and discipline-specific scenarios. Conclusion The project underscores the importance of structured teaching assessments in addressing the gap between clinical expertise and pedagogical proficiency. Despite challenges such as resource requirements, the positive reception of OSTEs in Georgia aligns with its international success and supports its integration into the medical education curriculum. Recommendations include providing follow-up support and fostering peer learning environments to ensure sustained improvement in teaching quality.

Source: MedEdPublish

DOI: 10.12688/mep.20971.1