Resumen de Educational Technology in the Development of Health Manpower in Egypt
Today more than ever before, there is a growing need around the world for the development of human resources in health and medical sciences, in order to provide for more qualified manpower in the various fields of health services. The advancement in medical technology has created drastic changes in the techniques and methods of performing these services. New skills and competencies have to be learned and acquired. Medical institutions need to reconstruct their programmes and use new methods, materials, and techniques to meet the challenges and responsibilities they are facing. In order to cope with these situations, the government of Egypt has obtained the assistance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to set up the Centre for Educational Technology in the Health Sciences in Cairo with the purpose of using the new technology in developing materials and strategies for the Health Manpower Development Programmes. This paper attempts to introduce this case which, indeed, will have wide appeal to developing countries, particularly to the Arabic‐speaking countries where materials and techniques developed could easily be modified to meet similar needs. In this presentation the writer will discuss the centre in terms of its objectives and functions, materials produced, methods used and the administrative organisations suggested for the management of resources and personnel. The author will draw upon his experience as a former WHO consultant in educational technology for this centre to point out the problems which are apt to take place in such cases and to offer some recommendations.
