Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Higher Graduate Diploma Program in Clinical Medical Sciences in Psychiatry is fundamentally aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals by its core mission to produce expert psychiatrists who can address the complex challenges of mental health. The program philosophy emphasizes a holistic, evidence-based approach to patient care, combined with a strong ethical foundation and a commitment to research. This makes the program a powerful and direct contributor to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by training specialists to treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, a critical component of universal health coverage. As an advanced postgraduate program, it is a clear pillar of SDG 4 (Quality Education), fostering lifelong learning and creating highly skilled professionals for a vital healthcare sector. The curriculum's dedicated focus on diverse populations, including children, adolescents, the elderly, and LGBTQ+ individuals, demonstrates a strong commitment to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Furthermore, by instilling a deep understanding of medical ethics and law, the program supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), ensuring graduates practice with accountability and strengthen the healthcare system.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-beingAlignment Summary: This program is centrally focused on promoting mental health and well-being, a critical and often overlooked component of overall health. The curriculum provides comprehensive training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders across the lifespan. By producing specialist psychiatrists, the program directly contributes to strengthening the capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and management of mental health issues, aligning with the core targets of SDG 3.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 767 101 | Psychiatry Theory 1 | Directly supports Target 3.4 by covering foundational knowledge of psychiatric disorders, psychopathology, and various therapies, which are essential for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable mental health conditions. |
| MD 767 103 | Psychiatry Theory 2 | Addresses health and well-being across all ages by focusing on specialized areas such as child, adolescent, and geriatric psychiatry, as well as addiction and psychosomatic medicine. |
| MD 767 102 | Clinical Skills in Psychiatry 1 | This core practical course is fundamental to SDG 3, providing hands-on skills in patient interviewing, mental status examination, and case management, which are crucial for effective mental healthcare delivery. |
| MD 767 201 | Clinical Skills in Psychiatry 2 | Enhances health outcomes by developing advanced clinical skills in managing complex psychiatric cases, including emergencies and liaison psychiatry, strengthening the overall healthcare system's response to mental health crises (Target 3.d). |
| MD 567 101 | Correlation of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Medical Sciences | Improves health outcomes by ensuring that psychiatric practice is grounded in a solid understanding of fundamental sciences like pathophysiology and pharmacology, leading to safer and more effective treatments. |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: As an advanced postgraduate diploma, this program exemplifies quality education by providing specialized, in-depth training for medical doctors. It promotes lifelong learning skills through a strong emphasis on research methodology, critical appraisal of scientific literature, and continuous professional development, ensuring that graduates possess highly relevant technical and vocational skills for a specialized medical field.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 507 102 | Research Methodology in Medicine | Directly supports Target 4.4 by equipping physicians with advanced technical skills in research design, data analysis, and critical appraisal, which are essential for high-level employment and scientific contribution. |
| 411 725 | Technical English for Medical Residents | Contributes to inclusive and equitable quality education by providing the language skills needed to access global scientific knowledge, participate in international academic discourse, and engage in lifelong learning (Target 4.7). |
SDG 5: Gender EqualityAlignment Summary: The curriculum promotes gender equality by specifically addressing the mental health needs of diverse populations, including issues related to gender and sexuality. This ensures that future psychiatrists are equipped with the knowledge and sensitivity to provide inclusive and equitable care to all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 767 103 | Psychiatry Theory 2 | Directly supports gender equality (Target 5.1) by including specific instruction on gender identity and LGBTQ+ mental health, ensuring that graduates are prepared to provide non-discriminatory and affirming care to all genders. |
SDG 10: Reduced InequalitiesAlignment Summary: The program actively works to reduce inequalities by training psychiatrists to serve diverse and vulnerable populations. The curriculum includes dedicated modules on child, adolescent, and geriatric psychiatry, as well as care for LGBTQ+ individuals. This focus ensures that graduates are prepared to provide equitable mental healthcare to groups that often face barriers to access and specialized treatment.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 767 103 | Psychiatry Theory 2 | Directly addresses Target 10.2 and 10.3 by providing specialized knowledge for the social and psychological inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, or other status, through focused modules on child, adolescent, geriatric, and LGBTQ+ psychiatry. |
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong InstitutionsAlignment Summary: This program contributes to building effective and accountable institutions by grounding its graduates in the legal and ethical frameworks of medical practice. Courses on professionalism and civil service ensure that future psychiatrists operate with integrity, respect patient rights, and adhere to national laws, thereby strengthening the quality and justice of the healthcare system.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 937 101 | Medical Professionalism | Directly supports the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions (Target 16.6) by instilling principles of bioethics, patient safety, and professional responsibility, which are crucial for a just healthcare system. |
| MD 507 101 | General Knowledge of Civil Service | Contributes to strong institutions by providing physicians with knowledge of the laws and administrative regulations governing their practice within the public health system (Target 16.6). |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: The curriculum fosters partnerships by developing professionals skilled in interdisciplinary collaboration, a cornerstone of modern healthcare. Through an emphasis on research skills and the ability to engage with global scientific literature, the program prepares graduates to share knowledge, access international best practices, and contribute to the global partnership for science and technology for sustainable development.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 507 102 | Research Methodology in Medicine | Enhances the global partnership for sustainable development (Target 17.6) by equipping physicians with the skills to conduct and appraise research, enabling them to contribute to and benefit from the international body of scientific knowledge. |
| 411 725 | Technical English for Medical Residents | Strengthens capacity for international cooperation (Target 17.9) by providing medical professionals with the language skills necessary to collaborate with peers globally and access international knowledge platforms to address health challenges. |