After Professor Anne Merete Aass retired, the accreditation work has been led by Associate Professors Odd Carsten Koldsland and Anders Verket. They are proud and delighted that the first specialist examination following the accreditation has been a success.
"This is an important recognition of the quality of the specialist education program, but also an acknowledgment of the clinical operations at the Faculty of Dentistry, as this played a significant part in obtaining the accreditation," says Koldsland.
The EFP accreditation sets new requirements and standards for both the education program and the conduct of examinations.
For the first time, the entire examination process was done in English. This has allowed the program to strengthen its ties to European networks of other accredited institutions and thereby expand its professional collaboration in a new way.
Two specialist candidates took the examination this time, and they reported finding it highly inspiring to be part of the EFP's international network. They highlighted the value of gaining different perspectives from colleagues in other European countries.
Mervi Gursoy, who led the examination, was impressed with the high academic standard of the department. She also emphasized the value of having more Nordic colleagues to discuss academic topics with, contributing to a stronger Nordic dialogue and collaboration.
"The EFP accreditation has made the specialist education program more attractive internationally," says Deputy Dean for Specialist Education Jan Eirik Ellingsen.
This also opens up new possibilities for research, networking, and collaboration that will benefit both current and future candidates.
Dean of Studies Hans Jacob Rønold and Deputy Dean for Specialist Education Jan Eirik Ellingsen both emphasized the importance of this development.
"It is crucial that our specialist education programs are well-rooted in the university environment, ensuring a high academic standard through an interchange between research and education. This first international examination not only marks a milestone for the Department of Periodontology but also represents an important step in strengthening the position of the specialist education program on the global stage."