The Institute Development Group with the assistance of two operations groups has evaluated a range of strategic alternatives available to the three constituent Schools, Medicine, Dentistry and Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (PGMDE). The scoping process, which included more than 10 meetings with key stakeholder groups over a period of approximately five months, highlighted the benefits that conjoining the Medical and Dental education and research will bring to the cognate disciplines of Medicine and Dentistry and to their students. However, it also highlighted the perceived risk to the ‘all Wales’ remit of the Wales Deanery constituent of PGMDE and the perceived loss of identity for the constituent medical and dental Schools.
The Development Group has reviewed the original proposals and remains convinced of the benefits the three Schools will reap from working together. However, taking stakeholder feedback into account, alternative means of delivering the desired outcomes without changing the academic structure of the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry have been actively sought.
The College will work with the individual Schools of Medicine and Dentistry to agree strategic and financial targets for each individual School in the areas of Research, Education, student experience and financial sustainability. The Schools will maintain their academic identity while working collaboratively where appropriate to share resources (research, teaching and administrative) and deliver the required outcomes.