HISTORY

The Dental Education Program originated from a meeting between drg. Liem Tjing Kiat and drg. Halima Dg. Sikati from the Indonesian Navy Dental Institute and the Rector of Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Lt. Col. M. Nasir, SH, to discuss the possibility of establishing a Dental Education Program at Unhas in 1968. The cooperation agreement between Unhas and the Indonesian Navy was signed in January 1969. Based on the Rector’s Decree of Unhas dated January 1, 1969, the Dental Institute became the Department of Dentistry under the Faculty of Medicine, Unhas, and was further strengthened by the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 0226/1970 dated July 27, 1970. Based on Rector’s Decree No. 91/0/02/83 dated February 22, 1983, and the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 0563 dated December 8, 1983, the Department of Dentistry was officially transformed into the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) of Unhas. Over time, by 2022, the Faculty of Dentistry of Unhas had expanded by establishing several Specialist Dental Education Programs (PPDGS), including Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Conservative Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Radiology, and Oral Medicine, as well as Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Dentistry.

The dynamic development of dental science and technology requires a strong and adaptive supporting system in education. This is believed to produce significant advancements in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases, oriented toward present and future needs in relation to global, national, and regional developments. The paradigm of dental education must therefore evolve from a skills-based education model into a research-based professional education model that addresses community and industry needs while fulfilling both national and international qualifications. Consequently, the formulation of the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the Dental Education Study Program of the Faculty of Dentistry was developed in reference to the Strategic Plan of the Faculty of Dentistry Unhas 2020–2024 and the Hasanuddin University Long-Term Development Plan 2030 (Rector’s Decree of Unhas No. 4843/H4/O/2010 dated May 3, 2010, concerning the Hasanuddin University Development Plan 2030). The mechanism for reviewing the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the Study Program within the Faculty of Dentistry was conducted through several stages.

A task force was established to review and formulate the draft concepts of the Vision, Mission, and Objectives of both the Faculty and the Study Program in collaboration with the Faculty leadership. The draft was subsequently presented during a Faculty coordination meeting attended by all Heads of Departments within the Faculty of Dentistry Unhas. The completed draft was then discussed in meetings/workshops attended by all stakeholders, including lecturers, students, administrative staff within the Faculty of Dentistry, alumni, and graduate users, with the aim of obtaining input for refinement and serving as the initial socialization of the new vision and mission. The workshop was held at the Hasanuddin University Research Activity Center (PKP) Building on April 14, 2011.

The vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the Faculty and Study Program that had received input from all stakeholders were subsequently refined by a Special Team and officially approved during the Senate meeting of the Faculty of Dentistry on May 10, 2011. These were later further refined and finalized during the Faculty of Dentistry Unhas annual work meeting in 2019.

The implementation of the educational process has been carried out through curriculum innovation and development involving all stakeholders, which resulted in the adoption of the Student-Centered Learning (SCL) system through a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach since 2008, followed by several stages of evaluation. The implementation of active learning methods in PBL has had a positive impact on student engagement in the learning process. Through this method, students actively seek, explore, develop, understand, and analyze information both independently and collaboratively in groups by utilizing all available learning resources, facilities, and infrastructure. Students are provided with sufficient opportunities and time to develop knowledge and technology, general skills, as well as comprehension and understanding of materials relevant to the field of Dentistry.