Starting from AY2012/13, the enrolment to the Faculty of Dentistry four-year undergraduate program has increased from 48 to 52 students per academic year. Didactic and clinical teachings are carried out by about 30 full-time Dentistry staff, staff from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine as well as specialists and prominent practitioners from both the public healthcare institutions and private practice.
The Faculty of Dentistry had its beginnings in 1929 as a department of the King Edward VII College of Medicine, and was the first dental school established in a British Colony in the East. It became part of the University of Singapore in 1962, achieving faculty status in 1966. The Faculty premises were located on the grounds of the Singapore General Hospital until 1986 when it moved to the National University Hospital.
From 1 October 2011, the NUS Faculty of Dentistry was restructured into a one-department Faculty.
Established in 1970, the Graduate School of Dental Studies (GSDS) was known as the School of Postgraduate Dental Studies (PGDS) until 1997 when its name was changed. This move was initiated to keep in line with the other graduate schools of the university. With effect from AY2002/03, the graduate school was re-named “Division of Graduate Dental Studies (DGDS)”.
The objectives of the graduate division are:
- To provide residency training programmes leading to postgraduate qualifications in dentistry
- To promote continuing dental education; and
- To develop research in dentistry.
The Centre for Advanced Dental Education (CADE) was set up in 2006 as one of the Faculty of Dentistry’s strategic initiatives to raise the Faculty’s profile through a heightened role in providing continuing dental education and expanding clinical training.
The Centre focuses on providing training for dental practitioners and auxiliaries in the form of:
• Continuing Dental Education lectures
• Hands-on courses
• Graduate diploma courses.
To be a dental institution of international distinction.
To improve oral health through academic excellence, high-impact research and quality clinical service.
Our mission will support the three thrusts of NUS: quality education, high-impact research and entrepreneurship, in service of country and society.
By providing a vibrant and challenging environment, the faculty strives to produce clinically competent, socially, and ethically responsible professionals who will be leaders in the community.
Excellence in our educational programmes and innovative research with high impact is the foundation upon which we will advance knowledge and nurture students to realise their full potential with a passion and commitment to independent life-long learning.
The Faculty’s mission is in line with the University’s general mission to excel in teaching and research, and to contribute to Singapore’s social and economic development.
The Faculty of Dentistry aims to be the leading dental school in the Asia-Pacific region within the next 10 years, and a top-ranked dental school internationally within 20 years.
Therefore, the NUS FOD is guided by the following eight objectives, the achievement of which will facilitate the attainment of our vision:
1. To be the educational hub for dentistry in the region, being a centre where the very best dental students, staff, and faculty interact and learn from one another.
2. To establish a vibrant and conducive environment for high impact research, excellent teaching, and professional clinical service.
3. To produce clinically competent graduates with a sense of professionalism, ethical and social responsibility.
4. To develop peaks of excellence in research.
5. To be the regional centre for postgraduate clinical specialty training programmes that are recognised for their excellence, and graduates who are leaders in their clinical specialties.
6. To strengthen bonds with students, alumni and other stakeholders, building bridges that transcend the academic experience.
7. To provide leadership in the development of the profession.
8. To contribute towards life-long learning for the dental profession.
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