Current Status and Future Role of Biology Practicum in the Liberal Arts Curriculum of Medical Schools in Japan

Abstract

 In 2001, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) formulated the “Model Core Curriculum for Preparatory Education,” defining the significance of liberal arts education in medical training as fostering intellectual curiosity and the ability to think critically-skills essential for preserving and advancing humanity's intellectual heritage.   The role of first-year liberal arts education is crucial for medical students, particularly biology education, which forms the foundation of medicine and acts as a bridge between basic and clinical medical sciences.   A thorough review of the content of biology practicums is directly linked to the enhancement of medical education.   In this study, we investigated the current state of biology practicums at 30 medical schools across Japan and report on their future directions.