title: Exploring the consistency, transparency and portability of dental technology education: benchmarking across Norway, Ireland and Australia.
abstract: Dental technology programmes of study must prepare students to practice in a broad range of contemporary workplaces. Currently, there is limited evidence to benchmark dental technology education - locally, nationally or internationally. This research aims to improve consistency, transparency and portability of dental technology qualifications across three countries. Data were accessed from open-source curriculum documents and five calibrated assessment items. Three institutions collaborated with Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway; Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; and Griffith University, Australia. From these, 29-44 students completed 174 assessments. The curricula reflect the community needs of each country and display common themes that underpin professional dental technology practice. Assessment results differed between institutions but no more than a normal distribution. Face-to-face assessment moderation was critical to achieve consistency. This collaborative research has led to the development of a set of guidelines for other dental technology education providers interested in developing or aligning courses internationally to enhance the portability of qualifications.
authors.affiliation: Department for Radiography and Dental Technology Programs, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myhrer
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Population and Social Health Research Programme, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Department for Radiography and Dental Technology Programs, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.affiliation: Division of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.affiliation: Division of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D019985:Benchmarking; D003479:Curriculum; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D003824:Denture, Complete; D004497:Education, Dental; D018961:Educational Technology; D005260:Female; D006047:Gold Alloys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013335:Students, Dental; D013663:Teaching; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000193:education*; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D006047:Gold Alloys; D003776:Dental Porcelain
keywords: assessment; curriculum; dental technology; education; international; transparency