Time for Change – The Implementation of a Reform Curriculum at the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne

The Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne has developed and implemented a reform curriculum (“Modellstudiengang”). The first student enrolled in the winter term 2003/2004 are currently entering their internship. The authors consider the following aspects as being crucial for the successful implementation of the curricu- lum: a procedure along the WFME (1999) guidelines; the use of top-down strate- gies for decision making and bottom-up strategies for practical implementation (i.e., faculty participation from scratch); the use of local strengths and creation of new structures as needed; change management by “evolutionary” principles.

06.02.2009 | Christoph Stosch, Klaus Lehmann & Stefan Herzig (Köln)