The Medical Skills and Simulation Centre at the Arabian Gulf University’s (AGU) College of Medicine and Health Sciences has successfully carried out its first fully digital examination of professional skills in collaboration with the e-Learning Unit. This marks a significant step towards modernising medical education evaluation methods through the use of the latest digital technologies.

For the first time, candidates utilised tablets to complete evaluations digitally across three groups, three courses and five stations per course. Digital checklists were seamlessly integrated into the system, ensuring accurate distribution of examiners and students within each group. Simultaneously, examiners received comprehensive training to familiarise themselves with the new platform, which enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of the assessment process. Examiners praised the new system, noting its high effectiveness, time-saving capabilities, cost reduction and the complete elimination of paper use.

This shift to a digitally managed Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) system eliminates manual errors, streamlines the assessment process, and provides real-time data analytics through an analytical dashboard. This innovative approach facilitates a more precise tracking of student and examiner performance as well as the efficiency of the stations.

In this regard, Prof. Abdelhalim Deifalla, Dean of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at AGU, explained that the adoption of electronic examination technology for the clinical skills assessment of third-year students aims to enhance the educational process and improve the quality of student evaluations. He emphasised that it automates the processes of exam creation and grading, saving time and effort for faculty and administrative staff, while providing immediate exam results and performance analysis for students, thereby ensuring a more objective and fair assessment. It is noteworthy that this system has proven successful in clinical examinations for the Doctor of Medicine programme.

Additionally, Dr Reem Al Ansari, Head of the Medical Skills and Simulation Centre and Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the College, said: “The move to a fully digital examination of professional skills represents a major advancement in the evaluation methodology at the Medical Skills and Simulation Centre. By integrating technology, we enhance accuracy, efficiency and real-time data analysis, thereby eliminating the errors and logistical challenges associated with paper assessments. This innovation also ensures a more objective and standardised evaluation of clinical competencies, while providing valuable insights for the continuous improvement of medical education and health professions.”

On his part, Mr Nawaf Abdulrahman, Director of the University’s Information Technology Centre, affirmed that the completion of the first digital unit-end assessment for professional skills constitutes a significant achievement in the university’s comprehensive digital transformation journey. He noted that the adoption of digital examination enhances innovation and harnesses modern technology to improve the quality of education and academic assessment. 

Commenting further, Mr Abdulrahman added: “This initiative aims to achieve the highest levels of accuracy and transparency, providing a more efficient educational experience for students, in line with the university’s vision for digital transformation, aligning with contemporary advancements and addressing future needs.”

On his part Mr. Arpan Stephen, E-Learning Expert at the E-Learning Unit, highlighted that this move aligns with the university's strategic vision to digitize and innovate assessment processes for improved learning outcomes, evaluation, and reporting.