The interface between United Kingdom, Irish and Australasian college qualifications

Colleges in different parts of the world fulfil an important role in setting standards and ensuring a high calibre of postgraduate dental education and training. They have evolved to fulfil the requirements of the particular circumstances prevailing in each country. With the changes that are taking place throughout the world and the increasing demands for high quality general and specialist dental care, all of the colleges are modifying their structures and examination formats. In many ways these changes are bringing the colleges more in line with each other. In view of this, there is a need for better communication and closer collaboration between the colleges. In the United Kingdom and Ireland proposals for shorter, more structured training programmes and for more specialist dental care to be provided outside hospitals, together with the influence of European Community law, have resulted in major changes. Among the effects of these changes are a restructuring of training programmes, the development and recognition of new specialties and the reconfiguration of college qualifications.