Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

The widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including transformation of mental health care delivery, has significantly affected both undergraduate and postgraduate Psychiatry education worldwide. Through this symposium, we aim to discuss these ramifications and the innovations used to mitigate them to promote the highest standards of psychiatry education from a global perspective. Speakers from Iran, Ethiopia, India, and the United Kingdom will discuss their challenges and how they addressed these challenges. The pandemic in India and Iran resulted in a decline in patients numbers leading to a lack of training opportunities. Dr Nagendrappa will present an Asian perspective of these challenges and how these are being addressed. Dr Nagendrappa will discuss the role of telepsychiatry in shaping the future of psychiatry training in India. Africa is amongst the worst-hit regions due to the pandemic causing widespread disruption, including its impact on psychiatry medical education. Dr Handuleh will discuss the findings from an Egyptian study highlighting the challenges faced by residents and challenges in integrating innovative practices in Psychiatry training. Finally, Dr Bagepalli Krishnan will discuss the impact of the pandemic on undergraduate and postgraduate psychiatry training in the United Kingdom and the role of Association of University teachers of Psychiatry (AUTP) in promoting innovations in psychiatry education during the pandemic via various online events and AUTP-WPA book on Virtual placements. The chair will then facilitate a panel discussion on reflections and lessons learnt during the pandemic and how the learning can be applied in facing challenges in training in the future.