The role of short-term courses in the system of continuous medical education: upskilling and reskilling in the Republic of Kazakhstan

In the healthcare education system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, short-term non-formal education courses are not aimed at obtaining a new specialty, but rather at developing and updating professional competencies within an existing qualification. This form of training enables healthcare professionals to rapidly acquire modern methods of diagnosis, treatment, and patient care, as well as to improve the quality of medical services in accordance with current healthcare standards. In this context, the concepts of upskilling and reskilling, widely used in modern educational practice, play an important role. Upskilling refers to the deepening and expansion of an individual’s existing professional skills. For example, a doctor or nurse may take a course on new clinical protocols or modern technologies in their field, thereby enhancing their expertise without changing their core specialization. Reskilling, on the other hand, is associated with acquiring new professional skills to adapt to the changing demands of the healthcare system. However, within short-term non-formal education courses in Kazakhstan’s medical education system, this approach is generally applied to a limited extent, as such programs are not designed to provide a change of professional qualification or to obtain a new medical specialty. Thus, short-term educational programs serve as an important tool for continuous professional development, supporting up-to-date knowledge and practical skills of healthcare professionals through mechanisms of upskilling and partially reskilling within their professional field.