Implementation of OSTE Teaching Practices in Medical Schools of Georgian Universities
The project “Introduction of OSTE Stations in Georgian Higher Education Institutions” is one of the winners of the first grant competition from the Competitive Innovation Fund of the I2Q project (WB). The project aims to introduce innovations in teaching and learning, specifically enhancing classroom instruction through modern pedagogical methods. The OSTE (Objective Structured Teaching Encounter) initiative is implemented by a consortium that includes LEPL – Tbilisi State Medical University and LLC – Georgian-American University.
On April 25, 2025, the consortium organized a summary conference “Introduction of OSTE-Stations in Georgian HEIs” at TSMU. The conference was opened by Tamar Ghvamichava, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia. The purpose of the conference was to share the achievements and results of the OSTE Project with the broader public. Professor David Taylor, a Professor of Medical Education and Physiology at Gulf Medical University, traveled to Georgia specifically to attend the conference. During the event, both Georgian and international speakers discussed the development of the OSTE initiative and its significance for advancing the training of medical faculty.
The development of academic staff is crucial for improving the quality of higher medical education. This focus led to the idea of introducing OSTE stations among TSMU staff, which emerged following the ESME (Essential Skills in Medical Education) training courses conducted at the AMEE Center.
The project has been successfully underway since September 2023 and is scheduled to conclude in May 2025. To meet the project’s objectives, university spaces have already been equipped for OSTE simulations. Workshops were held, and training and assessment materials were developed to adapt the OSTE model to the Georgian context. With the help of international experts, academic staff received retraining in the OSTE methodology. Additionally, a pilot OSTE was implemented in universities, leading to the creation of a Georgian model of OSTE.