Standing Committee on Education and Training
Ongoing initiatives
The following educational instruments and/or events are, or will shortly be available within the structure of EULAR.
- EULAR annual congress
- EULAR post graduate course
- EULAR courses and EULAR scientific meetings
- EULAR patronage of meetings
- EULAR web course on-line
- EULAR update on rheumatic diseases
- EULAR learning tools for undergraduate students and general practitioners
This list is not exhaustive and will be adapted regularly.
1. Annual EULAR congress
The EULAR annual congress is organised by a dedicated scientific committee, appointed by the executive committee of EULAR. The chairman of ESCET is ex officio member of this scientific committee. The role of the ESCET with regard to the EULAR annual congress is limited in giving advice with regard to the educational content and structure of the congress. ESCET is especially interested to see a balanced number of “state of the art”, “educational hands-on”, “basic science explained” sessions. ESCET is also committed to evaluate whether all relevant topics within the field of rheumatology are covered within the context of the congress at least once every 3 years.
ESCET is involved in two special educational issues within the Annual Congress:
- A young rheumatologist’s track, including educational lectures specifically designed for trainees and fellows, where “stupid questions” can be asked in a safe atmosphere. At the Barcelona congress three sessions have been organised: publishing explained, scleroderma explained and innate immune system explained.
- The second activity is the organisation of a “Meet the Standing Committee session”, dedicated to an educational topic for trainees and trainers. In Barcelona the session was focused on assessment, i.e. how to formulate questions.
2. Postgraduate course
Every second year EULAR organises a postgraduate course targeted to young rheumatologists, in particular trainees in the last 2 years of their training and rheumatologists within the first 5 years after registration. The aim is not only to teach high standards of rheumatology science and clinical practice, but also to promote interaction of young rheumatologists from different countries within Europe among themselves and with the experts in the field. Therefore participation from all European countries is encouraged.
The next postgraduate course will be held in autumn 2008.
3. EULAR courses and EULAR scientific meetings
These courses/meetings deal with topics which are not sufficiently covered by the EULAR congress or other educational events such as capillaroscopy, crystal examination, ultrasound, assessment of rheumatic diseases, etc. EULAR also feels commitment to education on infrequent rheumatic diseases (e.g. scleroderma). Courses on issues common to other specialities, such as evidence based medicine are not a priority, as they are available in many countries in different settings. EULAR has made an overall structure for these courses 3 years in advance.
For these courses special rules apply (see guidelines for EULAR Courses and EULAR Scientific Meetings) and EULAR will take responsibility for the logistic and financial management of these courses/meetings. Application to host and organise these courses are announced and potential organisers are stimulated to submit proposals.
For 2008 applications can still be sent for the postgraduate course, the practical skill course and the laboratory testing course.
4. EULAR scientific patronage of meetings
Courses/meetings in the field of rheumatology, which are not organised by EULAR itself, may apply for the scientific sponsoring of EULAR. Rules for this purpose have been formulated (see Guidelines for EULAR Scientific Patronage of Meetings). EULAR considers these important topics in the field of rheumatology, but does not take responsibility in the organisation of these courses/meetings.
5. EULAR on-line course
This educational course is totally run through the web and is designed to last for two years. It is composed of 42 modules; each of these modules is dedicated to a specific topic. In 4 of the modules participants will be allowed to choose between 3 optional topics. Every module corresponds to approximately 5 hours working schedule for the student, totalling around 210 hours of educational training. The participant will have to correctly answer questions regarding the specific topic before he can continue with the next topic. At the end there will be an on-line examination that will, if successfully performed, lead to a certificate of completion of the EULAR on-line course on rheumatic diseases. The course is open to all rheumatologists as part of their continuous medical education. As soon as EU rules for accreditation of e-courses are set, the EULAR on-line course will file for accreditation.
80 people participated at the pilot course (September 2006 - March 2007); about half of them successfully finished the examination in April. The feedback from the participants was very good and their suggestions were used for the definite course.
Almost 250 people from over 50 different countries have now registered for the full course. Admission for this edition (running from April 07 - February 09) is now closed. The next course will start in April 2008 (announcements will be made on the website).
6. EULAR update on rheumatic diseases
As a side product of the EULAR on-line course on rheumatic diseases the updated version of each chapter will become part of the book. An electronic version of this book will probably be updated yearly, while the printed version will be updated every 2 to 3 years.
7. EULAR learning tools for undergraduate students and general practitioners
Rheumatologists in Europe are involved in the training of medical students and general practitioners. It is not the task of EULAR to take over these activities, but EULAR can help these rheumatologists by developing good quality learning tools, such as books, interactive DVDs, on-line courses and so on. The ESCET has started a task group on this subject. Good quality undergraduate training of medical students and GPs will have a positive effect on future rheumatology in Europe.
8. Bursaries / sponsorship
The chair of ESCET is involved in the selection of training and travel bursaries, the visiting professor programme and different awards and prizes.
This year bursaries have been given to attend the scleroderma course, the European Workshop (EWRR), the ultrasound courses and the annual congress. Additional bursaries will be available for the SLE course and the laboratory testing course.
9. Other activities
The chairman of ESCET is ex officio member of the European Board for Rheumatology, UEMS, and is involved in developing and assessing training programs. Also liaison with the paediatric rheumatology in this regard has been arranged.
Please send all comments and suggestions to: j.w.j.bijlsma@umcutrecht.nl
21/05/2007
RELATED INFORMATION
Guidelines for course organizers
Eular has established guidelines for organizers of EULAR courses as well as for organizers of courses "under EULAR patronage".
See these pdf documents:
Guidelines for EULAR Courses and EULAR Scientific Meetings >>
Guidelines for EULAR Scientific Patronage of Meetings >>
Course budget template