Working together to widen participation in dentistry
Staff and dental students have been working hard to develop a programme of exciting events for 2020, which is aimed at encouraging school age children from under-represented groups to consider dentistry as a career option.
Widening participation is a key priority for the University of Liverpool with the aim to inspire, engage and enable all those who would not traditionally consider higher education, to fulfil their potential by raising their awareness, challenging barriers and providing opportunities. In support of this University wide aim, 2019 saw staff and students from across the Dental School involved in delivering successful events with children from local schools: a Year 9 Taster day in March and a Summer School in July.
Those who participated in the events had the opportunity to visit the Dental School to hear inspiring talks about dentistry as a career choice, find out first-hand what it’s like to be a dental student, practice placing a composite filling and interpreting dental x-rays with the help of staff and students to name just a few activities.
Upcoming Widening Participation events
Response and feedback to both events was very positive and has been used by staff and dental students who have been working together behind the scenes to build on this success and plan an even better, more action-packed calendar of events for 2020, which includes:
IntoUniversity
- 12th Feb , 25th March 2020
- May 2020 (year 9)
- September 2020 (year 10)
Merseyside young Medics
Health Sciences Summer School
- July 2020
- starting Summer 2021
Destination dentistry (6th form)
All of the planned activities will aim to inspire and engage participants with a range of hands-on, interactive tasks taking place around the Dental School where they will be supported by staff and volunteering dental students to explore dentistry as a career option. To find out more about these events and other Widening Participation initiatives we support, visit our Widening Participation page.