WORKSHOP: “ENHANCING EXAMINATION ITEM QUALITY – A SOLID STEP IN PREPARATION FOR THE NATIONAL MEDICAL LICENSING EXAMINATION”

The workshop “Enhancing Examination Item Quality – A Solid Step in Preparation for the National Medical Licensing Examination” was organized within the framework of the Medical Education for the Future (MEF) Project, funded by KOICA, in collaboration between the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP) and Korean partners. This event is part of a series of workshops aimed at assisting Vietnamese medical schools in developing a modern, standardized, and integrated medical examination system, in preparation for the National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE), scheduled for 2027.

Under the direction, guidance, and promotion of the National Medical Council (NMC), the workshop focused on sharing core experiences and techniques for developing a standardized item bank, reliable examination papers, and analytical assessment tools to serve the national examination. Key topics included: an overview of the MEF Project and the strategy for developing assessment capacity; presenting the process of developing the test blueprint and graduation item bank at UMP; principles for designing high-quality Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs); the role of the psychometrician and the application of item analysis in high-stakes examinations; identifying and correcting structural flaws in item writing; and group work sessions to analyze items based on real data and receive expert feedback to finalize items and standardize the process.

The workshop was attended by Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang – Director of Agency for Sciences, Technology and Training (Ministry of Health), and Vice Chairman of the NMC. From UMP, attendees included Assoc. Prof. Vuong Thị Ngoc Lan, MD, PhD – Vice President of UMP, Assoc. Prof. Le Khac Bao, MD, PhD – Director of the Center for Medical Education (UMP), and Dr. Nguyen Duc Khanh – Deputy Director of the Center for Medical Education (UMP). The workshop was also attended by leaders and faculty members from 14 Medical Schools in the Northern and Central regions, demonstrating a shared commitment to building a transparent, objective, and internationally integrated medical competency assessment system, oriented toward the national licensing examination.

Figure 1. Delegates attending the workshop

The workshop specifically featured leading experts from South Korea: Prof. Park Hoon-ki – Chairman of the Examination Board, Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (KHPLEI); Prof. Shinki An – Director of the Global Health Development Group, Yonsei University; Prof. Min-Goel Lee – Director of the MEF Office in Vietnam; Prof. Jin-young Choi – Specialist in MCQ Design and Validation, Yonsei University; Dr. Sangyoung Bae – Educational Psychometrician, KHPLEI; Prof. Ire Lee – MEF Project Manager, Yonsei University; and Prof. Hanna Jung – Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University. The presence and direct experience sharing from these international experts provided a crucial opportunity for Vietnamese medical training institutions to access the model for developing examination papers and item banks for the licensing exam according to regional and international standards. Furthermore, the direct experience sharing on national exam design, item bank operation, standardization of assessment procedures, and application of psychometric analysis offered practical suggestions for Vietnam in preparing for the NMLE, aiming to ensure the professional competence of future doctors and patient safety.

In his opening address, Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang delivered a directive speech highlighting the importance of the workshop and future activity directions, while expressing gratitude to the Korean experts for supporting the Vietnam NMC in its efforts to build an effective and valid national licensing examination. Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang also highly appreciated UMP's proactive role and collaborative spirit in organizing this workshop.

Figure 2. Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang – Director of Agency for Sciences, Technology and Training, and Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council, delivering a directive speech

Figure 3. Prof. Park Hoon-ki, Chairman of the Examination Board, Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (KHPLEI), delivering the opening remarks

Figure 4. Prof. Shinki An – Director of the Global Health Development Group, Yonsei University, presenting on the MEF Project and the strategy for developing assessment capacity

The program was dynamic with active participation in discussions by medical educators, medical school leaders, faculty members, and assessment staff. Delegates candidly exchanged views on the need for item bank standardization, challenges in implementation at training institutions, cooperation models between universities and the NMC, and concrete steps toward a unified national competency assessment examination. Following the discussion, domestic and international experts provided insightful comments and suggestions, helping to clarify the roadmap for developing the examination tool and quality assurance mechanisms.

Figure 5. Prof. Jin-young Choi – Specialist in MCQ Design and Validation, Yonsei University, presenting a report

Figure 6. Dr. Sangyoung Bae – Educational Psychometrician, KHPLEI, presenting a report

Figure 7. Workshop Co-Chairs – Prof. Shinki An, Director of the Global Health Development Group, Yonsei University, and Assoc. Prof. Vương Thị Ngọc Lan, MD, PhD, Vice President of UMP

Figure 8. Assoc. Prof. Le Khac Bao, MD, PhD – Director of the Center for Medical Education, presenting a report

Figure 9. Dr. Nguyen Duc Khanh – Deputy Director of the Center for Medical Education, presenting a report

Through this workshop, MEF and its partners aim not only to enhance the quality of individual examination items but also to solidify the scientific, legal, and technical foundations for the National Medical Licensing Examination, ensuring that every licensed future doctor meets professional competency standards, for the sake of patient safety and the quality of the Vietnamese healthcare system.

Figure 10. Leaders and delegates from the attending schools