Call of interest for participation in the development of the European Diploma in HIV Medicine

EACS is developing a European Diploma in HIV Medicine. The diploma will be designed as an examination that will ensure minimum standards of education and training in HIV Medicine whilst promoting the delivery of a uniform standard of clinical care in the field of HIV Medicine. The development of this examination will be in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) which will provide end-to-end candidate management and examination administration.

The European Diploma in HIV Medicine Examination Board is launching an open call to join them.

A faculty of specialists in HIV have developed the core curriculum and an Examination Board has been convened. In addition, there will be opportunities to contribute to the examination and to join one of the committees. The activities will include content development, peer review, and defining standards for academic performance.

There are three key areas where the Examination Board wishes to recruit contributors. These are:

Examination board members
Question development panelists
Standard setters

Examination Board

The purpose of the Examination Board is to support the overall development and delivery of the European Diploma in HIV Medicine Examination. A key responsibility will be to maintain academic and professional standards of the examination and to ensure fairness, consistency, and reliability in the delivery of the examination.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy: is responsible for policy, regulatory and academic matters that relate to the Examination.
Planning and Reporting: jointly reports to EACS Education and Training Working Group Coordinator.
Governance: complies with RCPI policy governing examinations (Appeals, Code of Conduct, Regulations).

Question Development Panel

The purpose of the Question Development Panel is to support the EACS Diploma in HIV Medicine Examination Board with the overall development of the Diploma Examination within RCPI. A key responsibility will be to develop the questions and protect the quality and integrity of the examination and ensure fairness, consistency, and reliability in the delivery of the examination. The examination will be ‘Best of 5’ questions covering the Core curriculum.

Training will be provided for the panelists with the possibility to contribute remotely.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy: creates questions in line with the question style with defined topics from the blueprint. There is a formal mechanism for receiving questions. Often this is by a question writing session held in a single location, however, specific writers may be invited to write questions on defined topics from the blueprint.
Planning and Reporting: reports to the Diploma in HIV Medicine Examination Board on activities and progress.
Governance: complies with RCPI policy governing examinations (Appeals, Code of Conduct, Regulations).

Standard Setting Panel

The purpose of the Standard Setting Panel is to support the Diploma in HIV Medicine Examination Board with the overall development of the EACS Diploma Examination within RCPI. A key responsibility will be to protect the quality and integrity of the examination and to ensure fairness, consistency, and reliability in the delivery of the examination.

The standard setters will review question and candidate performance data; they will define the expected standards to be attained in the examination. We welcome both new and experienced standard setters.

Training will be provided for the standard setters with the possibility to contribute remotely.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy: is responsible for keeping abreast of developments in the world of medical education and medical practice ensuring that the examination papers are relevant to the examination curriculum.
Planning and Reporting: reports to the Diploma in HIV Medicine Examination Board.
Governance: complies with RCPI policy governing examinations (Appeals, Code of Conduct, Regulations).

The following conditions are in place for anyone who is interested to apply:

Be an EACS member.
Be experienced members in their specialty (for Examination Board members, normally being a consultant/senior lecturer/or equivalent status).
Be registered with their professional body where appropriate.
Be active in practice in their specialty or subject area.
Have an interest in education.
Have some experience in teaching and examinations.

In the selection procedure, the geographical diversity as well as gender balance will be considered.