Diversity and Career Progression in Dental School Staff in the UK and Ireland

Abstract

IntroductionDiversity is known to be important but diversity of staff working in dental schools in the UK and Ireland is low in comparison with the dental profession and the overall population. AimsTo provide a detailed snapshot of the diversity of dental academic staff in 2021 including staff working in academic and clinical roles.MethodsAn online survey was circulated to dental schools by Dental Schools Council. Questions included dates of graduation and key career milestones, demographics and indicators of esteem. Free text questions were also included.ResultsThere was a high degree of variability in dental academic careers which made direct comparisons difficult. Neither gender nor race appeared to be associated with a faster career progression. Females and those of racialised minority were less represented at the most senior grades. For those who had completed specialty training, racialised minority staff were far less likely to be working at consultant grade than their White equivalents.ConclusionThere are differences in career progression between staff in dental schools. The high amount of individual variability makes these difficult to quantify except at the most senior positions. Qualitative information is needed to contextualise the results and provide additional information.

Exploring discrimination and dental academic career progression in the UK and Ireland: “How many minority ethnic deans are there?” - free text comments from a survey of dental academics

“…8,9,10,11,12,13,14 Our recent survey of dental academic staff in UK institutions added support to reports of low representation of racially minoritised staff in senior positions. 15 The impact of intersectionality also needs to be considered in dental academia. 16,17 Perceptions of UK dental school staff about issues of inclusion and diversity have not previously been explored.…”

“…In addition to questions to determine any measurable differences in career progression according to protected characteristics 15 , four free-text comment questions were included to (1) establish beliefs about barriers to career progression based upon protected characteristics, (2) enquire about experience of discrimination in the workplace, (3) enquire about satisfaction with career progression, and (4) enquire about factors causing inequality for dental school staff.…”