Learning spaces in community-based dental education

Abstract

In response to various institutional and national policy drivers (University College Cork, 2018; Department of Health, 2019), a community-based dental education (CBDE) initiative in a non-dental setting has been proposed as a new curriculum offering in Paediatric Dentistry in University College Cork. The student-led clinic for children aged 0-5 years will be located in a new primary healthcare centre, which serves as a community hub for health and wellbeing services. The innovative use of learning spaces to imbue a culture of community-engaged scholarship in higher education is widely encouraged (Campus Engage, 2014; Galvin, O’Mahony, Powell & Neville, 2017). This work seeks to explore the features of the proposed learning environment, which may impact upon teaching and learning practice.