Internal evaluation of parasitology and mycology department of Urmia university of medical sciences

IntroductionIn accordance with evaluation of universities and high educational societies and by using accreditation model, parasitology and mycology department of Urmia University of Medical Sciences was evaluated. This study was done in parasitology and mycology department of Urmia university of medical sciences in 2007. This department with 4 scientific members, 3 educational districts, and 4 laboratories, and with 27 years archaism is involved actively in teaching of students of medical and health sciences. The assessment covered 9 areas, namely: department manager, scientific members, educational districts, human resources, education resources and research facilities, and the status of students. Questionnaires and check lists were developed by the scientific members of the department. After collecting the data, the results were categorized into three levels according to the gained points: non-desirable level (less than 25 % of the total score), semi-desirable level (between 25-75 % of the total score) and desirable level (more than 75% of the total score). The obtrained mean scores revealed that the department of parasitology and mycology was located in the "desirable level" in the fields of department manager, scientific members, educational district, and the status of students. The department was located in the "semi-desirable level" in the fields of human resources, education resources and research facilities. Overall, the deparment was gained the "semi-desirable" score (103 from 140). This study demonstrates that the deparment of parasitology and mycology is located in the semi-desirable level. Although the overall status is acceptable, but there is a need to modify the weak points in the suboptimal areas to improve the educational quality in this department.