Restructuring an undergraduate dental curriculum to global standards – a case study in an Indian dental school

Abstract

Globalisation has affected all aspects of life and dentistry is no exception. In the context of today's dentist being a global citizen, undergraduate training in dentistry is set to ensure converging standards so that international recognition of dental qualifications can move forward. The decision of the Dental Council of India to expand the undergraduate dental program to five years provides an opportunity to be part of the endeavor of the Global Dental Congress to achieve converging standards which was initially for the European Union, and now spreading out globally. Economic emergence in Indian subcontinent has resulted in growing oral health care needs both in quality and quantity. To address this issue, the graduating dentist needs to be trained following a competency based curricular model. Access to Internet facilitated the goal of achieving converging standards of dental schools to be feasible because of the instant communication and capacity to share information about training strategies via technology across the globe. Upgrading the undergraduate training to global standards by dental schools in India could be a wise and strategic move both for attracting students to study in India, as well as retaining the graduates after their training. The following is a case study of an Indian dental school set to restructure the undergraduate curriculum to global standards using the 8 steps of Kotter's transformational change. Change in curriculum and the subsequent accreditation of the school in global platform not only attracts prospective students but also results in producing competent dentists. Dental education provided by the institution can result in quality assurance, benchmarking the assessment system to achieve international recognition. This paper highlights the need and importance of facilitation of international convergence with long term aspirations for mutual recognition of international degrees.

Communication Skills Course in an Indian Undergraduate Dental Curriculum: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The addition of another year to the existing dental undergraduate program provides an opportunity to introduce professionalism, communication, and social skills training as well as computer information technologies (CIT). Proficiency in communication skills, team‐building skills, and global knowledge is slowly becoming an essential part of dental education in India 13 . To date, the literature does not include reports of evaluation of and training in communication skills during undergraduate dental education in India.…”

Dental educators’ views and knowledge of competencies required within a competency framework

“…When curriculum changes are proposed, involvement is the key to success, and efforts should be aimed at including as many stakeholders as possible, at different levels. 17 This would facilitate more inclusive and consultative processes, as suggested in this current study that dental educators could provide valuable recommendations for additional competencies requirements.…”

“…Therefore, in this current study it appeared that dental educators' views were influenced by their exposure to, and experience of seeing the bigger picture of the complete curriculum. Kadagad et al 17 suggests a focus group discussion, with graduates, students, faculty, and alumni, regarding their perceptions of the curriculum's strengths and weaknesses, as one way to understand and evaluate an existing curriculum. If they are solely focused on their specific discipline, it may limit their appreciation of viewing the dental graduate as ready, for independent practice in the 21st century.…”

Exploring frontline faculty perspectives after a curriculum change

“…Creating effective change, whether incremental or transformational in scale, is complex; however, the business, social and psychology literatures feature models of behavioural and organisational change which can guide leaders who are contemplating change . Kotter's eight steps for leading successful organisational change have been used to promote change when restructuring nursing and dental programmes, and to analyse the role of faculty development in effecting curricular change within a medical school . At a more theoretical level, Rogers’ notion of the diffusion of innovations addresses the rate of adoption of new ideas, behaviours or processes through communication by individuals and organisations within a social system .…”