About DFCT

The Dental Faculty Consortium of Thailand (DFCT) was founded in 1983 (B.E. 2526) on the joint initiative of the deans and acting deans of the five founding faculties of dentistry — Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University, and Prince of Songkla University. The idea arose during a seminar on “Teaching, Learning and Assessment Development at the Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University,” held on 24–25 October 1983 at the Erawan Resort, Chiang Mai. The group agreed that administrators and department heads from the five faculties should meet once a year, with each faculty rotating as host, to set directions for academic development in dentistry and to build relationships among administrators.

The first formal meeting, called the “Meeting of Thai Dental Faculty Administrators,” was held on 7 December 1983, hosted by the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, to define objectives, goals and a way forward. Attendees included deans, deputy deans and assistant deans from all five faculties, together with the President of the Dental Association of Thailand. The main goal of that first meeting was the “Project to Establish an Association of Dental Schools.”

At the 2nd meeting (Mahidol University) and the 3rd meeting on 31 March 1984 (Chiang Mai University), operational goals were set, eventually leading to the formal establishment of the organization. From then on the group met regularly, roughly every 1–2 months, with the five faculties rotating as host and chair.

The operations of the “Meeting of Thai Dental Faculty Administrators” were later reported to the Ministry of University Affairs, and the then Minister, Mr. Preeda Pattanathabutr, approved the establishment of the organization. It subsequently adopted the name “Dental Faculty Consortium of Thailand” (D.F.C.T.), initially using the English name “Thai Dental Faculties Board” (T.D.F.B.). Clear regulations, committee structures and operating plans were established, and the organization has consistently produced work of public benefit in cooperation with the various faculties of dentistry, the Dental Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, the Dental Council of Thailand, dental units of the Ministry of Public Health, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. At the 7th meeting of the organization in 2007 (B.E. 2550), the English name was changed to “Dental Faculty Consortium of Thailand” (D.F.C.T.).

Today, 8 faculties of dentistry take turns hosting and chairing the meetings, completing a full rotation among all 8 institutions each year.

Although not a government agency, this coming-together of dental faculty administrators as the Dental Faculty Consortium of Thailand is well recognised within the dental profession and by the university sector.

The future development of the dental profession depends on the cooperation and unity of its members in carrying forward the work the Consortium has begun. Today the Consortium works increasingly closely with the Dental Council of Thailand, the Dental Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health and other ministries employing dentists, as well as the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) — notably through the “Healthy Dental School” project, which aims to:

1. Support sustainable health-promotion activities across all 8 dental faculties, led by faculty personnel, in the areas of: human resource development; environmental management for health promotion; organisational management for health promotion; community engagement in health promotion; curriculum development aligned with health-promotion concepts; and research.
2. Build and develop sustainable health-promotion networks among the 8 dental faculties and between dental faculties and other public-health professions.

It is hoped that the Healthy Dental School project will foster development in mindset and cooperation among faculty, students and staff across all faculties and professional bodies, advancing the dental profession internationally while remaining well regarded by the Thai public.

Composition of the Dental Faculty Consortium of Thailand

Under the DFCT Regulations B.E. 2550 (2007), the Consortium serves as a central body for the faculties, cooperating, coordinating and carrying out academic work, education administration and other faculty- and profession-related activities. DFCT membership comprises the standing committee of every faculty, past deans of every faculty, advisory board members, the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General(s). DFCT operations comprise:

1. The Council of Deans, comprising the deans of every faculty.
2. The Board of Directors, comprising:
   1. Deans of every faculty
   2. One director per faculty, representing faculty administrators
   3. Advisory board members, comprising:
      • (a) The President of the Dental Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage
      • (b) The President of the Dental Council of Thailand
      • (c) The President of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Thailand
      • (d) Advisory board members appointed by the Council of Deans, not exceeding half the combined number of directors under (1) and (2) above
   4. The Secretary-General
   5. The Deputy Secretary-General (if any)
3. The Standing Subcommittees, of which there are 3:
   1. Subcommittee on Academic Affairs and Dental Research
   2. Subcommittee on Curriculum and Dental Education
   3. Subcommittee on Administration and Development

   Each standing subcommittee comprises: a chairperson appointed by resolution of the Board of Directors; one representative per faculty; one representative of the Board of Directors; and any members or advisors appointed by the subcommittee chair.

4. The Members’ Assembly, comprising: administrators of each faculty; past deans; advisory board members; the Secretary-General; and the Deputy Secretary-General (if any).