A Historical Review of the Official Development Assistance Program for Health Professions Education: Case of the National Teacher Training Center for Health Professions in Korea

Abstract

This research is a study of the National Teacher Training Center for Health Professions (referred to as NTTC), an independent institution set up by the Korean government. The NTTC was established in 1975 as an attached institution within the Seoul National University College of Medicine (SNUMC), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), for development of national health professions education, especially medical education in Korea. This study provides the opportunity to identify the effects and importance of institutional support of the NTTC by analyzing its activities for the endogenous process of capacity development of health professions education in Korea and evaluating its effectiveness by applying the aid effectiveness principles of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC). Adequate country capacity is crucial to achieving the sustainable development of developing countries. However, the way in which of aid during fifty years undermined the country capacity. Therefore, the existing innovations and effective practice of country capacity development need to be more widely speared. In this regard, the concept of the NTTC was revitalized in the 21st century under the name National Educational Development Center (hereafter referred to NEDC) in two countries, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Cambodia. However, empirical study and research have been limited, especially the historical review of the past experiences of the NTTC. This research, therefore, discusses the concept of reforming health professions education, reviews the status of medical education and ODA for health professions education in Korea by analyzing the particular case of the NTTC. The main activities of the NTTC were analyzed through the concept of Capacity Development and also evaluated by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC). Based on analysis of the NTTC activities, this study also reports the limitations and important implications in reforming health professions education, not only for the purpose of assisting the NEDC in the Western Pacific Region but also for educational development of Human Resources for Health.