Improving the quality of traditional medicine training: From commitment to action

1. Innovation in training programs: From tradition to modern competency standards

From a training institution rich in Oriental medicine identity, the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy is entering a period of strong transformation: The training program is no longer designed based solely on content, but is oriented towards output standards according to the professional competency framework - a model that has been successfully applied by many countries.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quoc Binh - Chairman of the School Council - said: Improving the quality of training of medical doctors, traditional medicine practitioners and university pharmacists in the direction of approaching professional competency standards and ensuring output standards has been identified as a key task by the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy.

According to him, the Academy’s goal is to clearly define the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes that students must achieve after graduation, in order to meet the requirements of practical work. To realize this goal, the Academy has been implementing a series of specific solutions and strategies, including:

Develop and complete output standards (EIS) based on the practical needs of the health system;
Innovate training programs and teaching methods towards student-centeredness;
Improve the quality of teaching staff to meet current professional standards;
And innovate testing and assessment work to accurately reflect learners' abilities.

Nâng tầm chất lượng đào tạo y dược cổ truyền: Từ cam kết đến hành động- Ảnh 1.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quoc Binh - Chairman of the School Council delivered the opening speech at the Workshop.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quoc Huy - Director of the Academy, competency standards are not a rigid "framework", but a commitment of the school's quality to society. What must graduates be able to do, at what level, and how must they meet the requirements of professional practice? This requires redesigning the program, teaching methods and assessment methods, so that the learner is truly at the center.

This transformation is not just technical, but a change in training thinking – from teaching “what” to teaching “to do what”.

2. Learning goes hand in hand with practice – a mandatory requirement in modern traditional medicine

One of the topics that delegates discussed enthusiastically was strengthening the connection between theoretical teaching and professional practice. In traditional medicine training, students not only need to understand the medicinal properties of herbs or diagnostic methods, but also need to master the skills of examination, prescription, and treatment coordination - abilities that are only formed through systematic clinical practice.

At the workshop, representatives of the departments proposed to increase the internship time at the Central Hospital of Traditional Medicine and local medical facilities, and to integrate real professional situations into the lectures. That is the competency approach - where "future doctors" learn through experience and problem solving, not just memorizing knowledge.

This change not only helps students feel confident when they graduate, but also contributes to strengthening social trust in the traditional medicine medical team – a profession that is playing an increasingly important role in public health care.

Nâng tầm chất lượng đào tạo y dược cổ truyền: Từ cam kết đến hành động- Ảnh 2.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Huy - Director of Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine spoke at the Conference.

3. Internal quality assurance system – the foundation of sustainable development

If the training program is considered the "heart", then the internal quality assurance system is the "circulatory system" that nurtures the development of the Academy. The report of the Workshop shows that the Academy has built a policy framework and internal accreditation processes at all levels - from subjects, programs to training units. However, what is more important is to transform accreditation from an administrative task to a culture of self-assessment and continuous improvement.

For this system to be truly effective, there must be a closed mechanism: Collect feedback – analyze data – adjust the program – monitor results. Each lecturer and each department must consider themselves a link in the quality assurance cycle, not just a teacher.

By applying this process, in the past two years, the Academy has adjusted 12 courses, added professional skills, increased practice time, and reduced duplication of theory. This is proof that quality is not only in the report, but is reflected in the real changes in each lecture and each class.

4. Access to technology – improving management and quality assessment

Digital transformation is becoming a lever for quality assurance. The Academy has deployed an online learning system (LMS), a standardized test bank, and automated learning assessment software.

As a result, monitoring student learning progress becomes transparent and continuous; lecturers can analyze data to detect early learning limitations. This not only supports training management but also helps improve teaching quality in a personalized way.

Technology does not replace teachers, but helps teachers teach better and students become more proactive. It is the combination of traditional Eastern medicine and modern technology that is creating a new look for the Academy.

5. Quality assurance is not just the job of one department

A notable point at the workshop was that quality assurance is no longer the sole responsibility of the center or specialized department, but has become the professional awareness of each member.

When lecturers proactively innovate their lectures, when students know how to self-assess their abilities, when administrative units work based on data and transparency – that is when the internal quality assurance system operates properly.

And then, quality does not need to be "reported", but is seen through real changes in training, research and community service.

6. Aiming for international standards – maintaining national identity

One of the Academy's long-term goals is to achieve international accreditation standards and expand training and research cooperation with traditional medicine schools in the region, but integration does not mean dissolution.

Delegates agreed that improving the quality of training must go hand in hand with preserving the identity of Vietnamese traditional medicine, considering it the "soul" of the Academy. Standardization according to the professional competency framework helps the program to be comparable internationally, but the training method and teaching content still need to be based on the heritage of traditional medicine. That is the dual path that the Academy is pursuing: Internationalizing standards, Vietnamizing values.

The workshop "Quality Assurance of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine in the 2025-2026 academic year" not only summarizes a period, but is also the starting point for a continuous improvement cycle. The presentations and discussions have suggested many practical solutions to review, improve and enhance the effectiveness of the internal quality assurance system.

From output standards to competency standards, from teaching to practice, from administration to technology – all factors aim at the common goal: Training traditional medicine practitioners who are both professionally competent and have the capacity to integrate and contribute to community health.

Some presentations at the conference:

1. Current situation and solutions to improve 03 training programs of the Academy According to the set of standards for evaluating training programs - MSc. Tran Thi Xoa - Deputy Head of Quality Management Department.

2. Improving the quality of training of Traditional Medicine doctors - Dr. Nguyen Tien Chung - Head of Traditional Medicine.

3. Ensuring the teaching quality of Acupuncture 1 & 2: Meeting output standards and comparing with domestic and international training trends - MSc. Huynh Thi Hong Nhung - Department of Acupuncture.

4. Plan to ensure and improve the quality of medical training - Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine - Dr. Pham Thai Hung - Head of Clinical Medicine Department. Head of Medical Department

5. Current situation and solutions to improve the quality of clinical training in Internal Medicine - BSCKII. Tran Thi Kim Thu - Department of Internal Medicine - HSCC.

6. Innovating and upgrading the Pharmacist training program to meet practical needs and strategic orientations until 2045 - Dr. Nguyen Van Quan - Head of Pharmacy Department.

7. Review, improve and ensure the quality of output standards of the Pharmacy training program approaching professional competence - Focus on the subjects of Plants and Medicinal Materials ( In a practical direction) - Dr. Tran Thi Thu Hien - Head of the Department of Plants and Medicinal Materials.

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Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nang-tam-chat-luong-dao-tao-y-duoc-co-truyen-tu-cam-ket-den-hanh-dong-169251113155231942.htm