Student success at college is not just achieving high grades The National Forum for Teaching and Learning defines student success as the process by which students fulfil their potential and flourish at college and in society. This is a broader activity than simply achieving high grades. Psychosocial competencies are core to the definition of student success: these are the ‘soft skills’ or ‘non-cognitive skills’ that enable students to cope well with learning challenges, engage deeply in learning, and develop their identities as learners and as active citizens. Transitions are a key issue within this priority area, with transitions such as the move from school to college presenting both challenges and opportunities for students.
Enhancing Resilience in Dental Undergraduate Training
About this initiative
Resilience is complex and multifaceted, involving numerous domains. It is an important competence for dental health professionals, as their professions are highly demanding and can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Burnout can limit effectiveness by reducing caring interactions and increasing medical errors. These significant challenges cause concerns over the mental and general health issues experienced by professionals. The rationale for this initiative is to enhance emotional resilience in the educational curriculum to prepare all dental cohorts – Dental Science, Dental Hygiene, Dental Technology, Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy students for the transition to the workplace. The initiative addresses the educational objectives set out by the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP) Smile agus Sláinte to reform dental education training and Goals 2 and 3 of the Trinity Strategic plan (2020-2025) ‘We will support a transformative student experience’ and ‘Practice next generation teaching and learning’. The core module will be developed as an online module through digital learning and will be aligned with the clinical practice modules across all dental undergraduate curricula. The module will consist of five ECTS comprising of six stand-alone units. Each unit will be supported by online discussion and experiential learning through case studies, reflective writing, rubric peer assessment, quizzes and self-evaluation. The module will utilise an online discussion forum where students can further reflect on the module content, recommended readings and engage with peers. It will embrace reflective and resilience practices to ensure that final year students are ready for the transition from student to dental professionals.




