A study of the institutional environment of medical universities: Perspectives from students, faculty, and administrators

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the educational, scientific, and administrative procedures within a medical university, as perceived by those directly involved. A survey was conducted among students, teachers, and administrators from seven medical universities in Kazakhstan. The survey included a total of 12,767 students, 1,728 teachers, and 554 administrators. The findings revealed that two-thirds of the students and teachers expressed satisfaction with aspects such as clinical equipment, resource availability, access to medical equipment, and patient accessibility. In contrast, administrators generally rated the quality of clinical procedures more positively. The study also identified the need for enhanced criteria in the selection of administrative personnel, suggesting that candidates should possess an academic degree and a minimum of five years of teaching experience. Furthermore, the research highlighted the importance of establishing clear criteria for combining teaching and administrative roles and implementing regular staff evaluations. These findings provide valuable insights into the areas requiring attention to improve the overall functioning of medical universities.

Keywords: Administration; educational procedures; medical university; perceptions; staffing