Short description of the history of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Rijeka
The integrated undergraduate and graduate university study program Dental Medicine was established in October 1973 with the underlying idea being born near the end of the 1960s. In November 1973, the first generation of forty-six students was enrolled in the study program Dental Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka. Since then, the study program is continuously held at the University of Rijeka.
Over time, the study program Dental Medicine changed its name several times (study program Dentistry and then study program Dental Medicine). Since 2008, the name of the study program bears the name of Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Study of Dental Medicine due to the obligation of harmonizing Croatian legislation with the Directive 2005/36/EU of the European Parliament and the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications of September 7, 2005. The change from a five-year study program with 300 ECTS to a six-year study program with 360 ECTS is the result of the peer review mission of the European Commission in July 2008.
The level reached by the Dental Medicine Program in 46 years of progressive activities in science and higher education has logically and rightly highlighted that for its further development it was necessary to change the formal and organisational framework, i.e. establish a new section of the University of Rijeka, the Faculty of Dental medicine. It ensures the strengthening of teaching and scientific research work, provides additional incentives for internationalisation as a proven impulse for development, greater integration of the expert base and existing scientific staff, integration of regional economic entities and greater fulfilment of public health priorities. The Faculty Council of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka supported this initiative at its meeting on June 11, 2019. At the 32nd session of the Senate on July 23, 2019, the decision was made to establish the Faculty of Dental medicine at the University of Rijeka without legal personality. The Faculty started its activities independently on March 1, 2020.
In 2017 was carried out accreditation of the study program Dental Hygiene. The first generation of University Undergraduate study of Dental Hygiene students was enrolled in Academic year 2017/2018.
Since Academic year 2020/2021, the Faculty of Dental Medicine is offering the study program of Dental Medicine taught in English.
