The Present And Future Situation Of The Medical University Graduates: Needs, Potentials And Realities

IntroductionEducational Development Centers (EDCs} in the health sector act as a resource and a catalyst for educational change and therefore have a significant role to play in the professional development of health personnel. The World Health Organisation has actively supported the establishments of EDCs by its member states because of the valuable contribution they can make to improving medical education. This improvement is usually realised through developing more appropriate curricula that reflect the  needs  of  the  community,   upgrading  the quality of education of health personnel and providing support for those involved in these changes.In the Islamic republic of Iran, since the radical reform of the health services and medical education in 1985, several EDCs have been established in  the country in order  to facilitate and assist changes envisaged in the reform in the way health personnel, including the country's future doctors and nurses, were educated. Their remit is to assist universities in the development of  a  community  oriented  curriculum,  promote good educational practices and encourage research in medical education.