The Global Network on Dental Education: a new vision for IFDEA

Abstract

The advent of globalization has changed our perspectives radically. It presents increased understanding of world affairs, new challenges and exciting opportunities. The inequitable distribution and use of finite energy resources and global warming are just two examples of challenges that can only be addressed by concerted international collaboration. Globalization has become an increasingly important influence on dentistry and dental education. The International Federation for Dental Educators and Associations (IFDEA) welcomes the challenges it now faces as a player in a complex multifaceted global community. This report addresses the new circumstances in which IFDEA must operate, taking account of the recommendations made by other working groups. The report reviews the background and evolution of IFDEA and describes the extensive developments that have taken place in IFDEA over the past year with the introductions of a new Constitution and Bylaws overseen by a newly established Board of Directors. These were the consequence of a new mission, goals and objectives for IFDEA. An expanded organization is planned using http://www.IFDEA.org as the primary instrument to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, programmes and expertise between colleagues and federated associations throughout the world, thereby promoting higher standards in oral health through education in low‐, middle‐ and high‐income countries of the world. Such aspirations are modified by the reality and enormity of poverty‐related global ill health.

Knowledge management systems for oral health in developing and developed countries

“…There was a joint Association for Dental Education in Europe ⁄ DentEd ⁄ IFDEA meeting in Dublin in September 2007, where dental educators from all over the world met to explore the future of dental education. The proceedings were published in the European Journal of Dental Education, and one of the themes discussed was the future role of IFDEA (2). It is still quite early in the development of this organization, but the goal is to utilize a knowledge management platform to share educational material between dental educators for the ultimate betterment of the quality of and access to oral health care.…”

Performance of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) depending on operator-experience

“…In industrial countries, the decline of caries in adolescents within the last decades is apparently a result of wide use of fluorides (1) and enhanced public oral health care (2). However, in many African countries, the vast majority of carious lesions remain untreated because of missing infrastructure and manpower (3).…”

Dental student suturing skills: a multicentre trial of a checklist-based assessment

“…With a move towards convergence of higher standards in dental education in Europe (16), and ultimately to globalisation (17), there must surely be a need for a standardisation in the assessment of core practical skills. Methods of assessment developed by one school could possibly be effectively disseminated to other schools provided that they are valid and reliable.…”