Premium
Undergraduate training in the European Union Convergence or divergence?
Author(s) -
Shanley Diarmuid B.,
Barna Sergiu,
Gan Peter,
Kelly Alan,
Teljeur Conor,
Munck Claus,
Ray Kenneth
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
european journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1600-0579
pISSN - 1396-5883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0579.1997.tb00008.x
Subject(s) - european union , competence (human resources) , divergence (linguistics) , curriculum , convergence (economics) , interpretation (philosophy) , medical education , vocational education , training (meteorology) , psychology , quality assurance , political science , medicine , pedagogy , international trade , business , computer science , economic growth , geography , external quality assessment , economics , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , meteorology , programming language
A survey of dental schools in the European Union was carried out for two main reasons. Firstly to promote the exchange of information in respect of curriculum objectives in the different countries and secondly to ascertain the differences in the interpretation of the 1978 EU sectoral directives for dental education and training. Out of 127 schools, only 30 responded, yet the information provided is of considerable importance. It demonstrates wide divergence in the interpretation of the 1978 Directives and methods of assessment of clinical competence. There is a considerable difference throughout Europe in hours devoted to the various subjects included in the Dental Directives. There is little evidence of convergence in methods of assessment or quality assurance. The survey demonstrates the difference in resources, levels of staff, availability of clinical training places, output in research and patient treatments throughout the European Union. The results question the effectiveness of the 1978 Dental Directives in promoting convergence of standards. As there is free movement of dentists throughout the European Union, it is concluded that a different approach may be necessary to ensure that all European Union dental graduates achieve comparable standards in their education and training.