Health Professions Education Centre
Report by Professor Jan Illing, Professor of Health Professions Education, Director of the Health Professions Education Centre and Interim Chair of RCSI SIM Centre for Simulation Education and Research
RCSI’s Health Professions Education Centre (HPEC) provides healthcare professionals with a wide range of teaching, learning and educational research opportunities. In 2025, HPEC implemented the fourth year of its five-year strategy, which aims to position RCSI as a leader in progressive, continuously evaluated approaches to teaching, learning and curricula – benefitting students, patients, staff and international communities.
This year saw the expansion of HPEC’s taught courses, including the launch of a new Master’s in Health Professions Education, the piloting of a new course designed to support health and social care staff to work collaboratively in the community and the growth of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education. Enrolment increased from 60 to 80 students, including 50 external fee-paying participants. A new pathway now allows nurses and midwife tutors to apply for a registered nurse tutor qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
HPEC also re-established the Interprofessional Learning Leadership Group at RCSI and continues to lead the academic direction of the International Citizenship programme, which is currently being enhanced to broaden its appeal across schools.
To support clinical learning, four new virtual patients were developed in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, general practice and medicine and surgery and will be available to fourth year medical students. With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, HPEC is proactively responding through a range of initiatives, including collaborating on the update of EU ethical AI guidelines for education, chairing the RCSI AI in Education Working Group and creating workshops and online training in AI and digital skills. A new GenAI and Assessment online course and digital badge was launched this year.
Other significant European contributions included HPEC’s participation the European University Association’s Thematic Peer Group on Student Empowerment.
HPEC’s academic staff were recognised internationally, with Dr Jenny Moffett winning Most Innovative Teacher of the Year award in the 2024 THE Awards. Professor Jan Illing was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the UK’s Academy of Medical Educators in November – their highest honour – for services to medical education. She also received a Highly Commended award in The Association for the Study of Medical Education Gold Medal.
The RCSI Education Innovation Awards, hosted by HPEC in June 2025, attracted submissions from across RCSI campuses, including Bahrain and China. HPEC publications continue to expand with a systematic review on transnational education published in Medical Education and two publications on case-based learning in BMC Medical Education.