Addressed to the directors, deans, and faculties of medical and other health-related schools, this booklet contains a detailed explanation of the meaning of community-based education. It opens with a brief account of trends in both industrialized and developing countries that have created a demand for health personnel capable of responding more effectively to community needs. The concept of community-based education is presented and discussed in terms of its underlying principles, its overall advantages, its organizational components, and the major problems and constraints facing implementation. Numerous practical examples are used to illustrate how the concept can operate in various training systems or situations where competence is acquired through close contact with real problems in the community. The remaining sections of the report set forth guidelines for implementing a community-based educational program. An outline of the various steps and approaches is presented together with recommendations on how to foster a broader understanding of the meaning and advantages of training programs closely linked to community needs. (YLB)