Embedding environmental sustainability within oral health professional curricula-Recommendations for teaching and assessment of learning outcomes

Eur J Dent Educ. 2023 Aug;27(3):650-661. doi: 10.1111/eje.12852. Epub 2022 Sep 19.

Abstract

The FDI World Dental Federation suggests that "dentistry, as a profession, should integrate Sustainable Development Goals into daily practice and support a shift to a green economy in the pursuit of healthy lives and wellbeing for all, through all stages of life." This article reports on the recent activity of the Association for Dental Education in Europe Special Interest Group for Sustainability in Dentistry. Following on from the group's previous activities, which explored current educational practice, this work aimed to reach a pan-European consensus on a number of learning outcomes for environmental sustainability, in order to (i) support institutions in designing and delivering their curriculum, and (ii) to further harmonise the delivery of oral health professional education across Europe. This article presents specific learning outcomes relating to environmental sustainability and recommendations relating to curriculum development, including methods of teaching and assessment.

Keywords: curriculum; dental; dental education; environment; sustainability.

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum
  • Education, Dental*
  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Learning
  • Oral Health*
  • Teaching