Data Collectionon the Formation ofthe Structure of Medical Education Development Centers in Iran

Background: Currently, medical education is affected by the Education Development Centers (EDC) of Medical Sciences universities in Iran. The aims of this studywere to introduce the principles of change inmedical education system in the world and to form the structure of medical education development centers in Iran. Methods: This is a review article thatusing multiple sources in the field of medical education and educationdevelopment centers through library and internetresearch. Results: Development of Medical Education is one of the essential objectives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. In the recent years, along withchanges in objectives and the administrative processes, these centers have a special importance in medical universities. Activities such asholding shahidMotahari educational festival, educational scholarship, and the importance ofthe professors’empowerment, research and development in education, internal evaluation, accreditation and ranking the development centers, responsive education and current processes of continuing medical education are the examples of changes of education development in Iran. Conclusions: By providing Education Development Centers, the traditional view of faculty members to education has been changed and teachers have come to believe that teachingis artily utilization of science. But it seems that despite significant changes created by these centers, some factors prevent the full role play in the qualitative improvement of the education such as: lack of funds and the inappropriateness of the payment system toeducational faculty members compared with the clinical faculty members. Therefore, it is essential to remove the barriers and problems facing universitiesand as a result, education development centers focus their activities oninnovation in medical education and do not becomea university administrative center gradually.