The Higher Education Review

Budh (Baddi) town of Solan District in Himachal Pradesh imbibes the beauty of mighty Himalayas. Far away from the cacophony of city life, this town offers a conducive-environment for learning. Located in Budh town, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital is the first and only dental college to be accredited with NAAC since 2016, in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Since its inception in 1997 by Bhojia Charitable Trust under the guidance and constant support of Sh. R.K. Gupta; President of the trust; the institute has been imparting high quality education and medical facilities in the northern belts of the country.

Completing two decades of glorious years of excellence in the academic field under the leadership of Mr. Vikram Bhojia, Secretary of the trust; the college has cultivated a decent repute with the medical industry that helps the students to stay upgraded with the contemporary information and happenings. "We are fortunate to share a cordial relationship with the industry professionals and organizations. This highly leads us to the path of excellence and more opportunities," says, Dr. Ajay Chhabra, Principal, Bhojia Dental College, and Hospital. The college has signed MoU with Colgate, through which meritorious students are rendered scholarships and a MoU with Indian Dental Association (IDA) for National Oral Cancer Registry Program.

Owing to the long heritage of existence, the college relishes international collaborations with Universities in New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia and other Dental Universities within India like KGMC, Lucknow and Nair Hospital, Mumbai. Dr. Rishabh Kapila, Dean-Student Affairs, shares, "Our students regularly visit these universities for elective postings where they can learn dentistry from a different perspective altogether." These collaborations assist the students in interacting with the professors and students from various parts of the world and share insights on different aspects of dental education.

Collaborative Learning Model
The institute offers following

programmes as per directions from the Dental Council of India and H.P. University, Shimla: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.), Master of Dental Surgery (M.D.S.) along with Diploma in Dental Hygienist and Diploma in Dental Mechanics. The students of M.D.S. gets to choose their specialization among six options, viz. Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Pedodontics, Periodontics and Oral Pathology. The H.P. University, Shimla has a Board of Studies, which incorporates changes in the curriculum according to the recent advancements in the field.

"Having 70 full-time and dedicated faculty members, the students are evaluated and monitored on the basis of regular tests and discussion that are performed in the classroom."

There is a 'student-mentor program' in the institute through which the students are encouraged to push their limit and indulge into more practical and research activities. Having 70 full-time and dedicated faculty members, the students are evaluated and monitored on the basis of regular tests and discussion that are performed in the classroom.

To keep both teachers and students well verse on numerous essential topics, the college regularly organizes various CDE programs with the help of 'student committee' in which stalwarts of dentistry are invited to speak on a topic of interest. Various hands-on courses are also conducted which allows practical demonstrations of advanced procedures covering conventional dental implants, basal (zygomatic) implants and esthetics. Concerning the better practical practices of the students, the lush-green campus is well equipped with the entire advanced teaching aids, WIFI connectivity, and equipments. The campus also has a dental hospital for clinical training of students.

Getting practical training from the very initial stage, the students become job-ready by the end of the course. After the practical training in the laboratories and demonstration on patients, once the in-depth knowledge is obtained by the students, they are even allowed to treat a patient independently although under the guidance of senior faculty members. "The presence of a first-rate OPD empanelled with ESI scheme provides students the chance to treat the variety and ample number of patients

suffering from different disorders resulting gaining mastery in their subject matter," opines Dr. Chhabra. Moreover, there is a dedicated implant centre in the institute to cater to the needs of the society.

Apart from the curricular activities, the students are encouraged to participate in different co-curricular activities. Ensuring holistic development of the students, the college hosts an annual fest on a regular basis, in which students get the chance to showcase their talents. Dr. Kapila shares, "The College is going to host the First Student Conference of all the dental colleges in the State of Himachal Pradesh in March 2018 that will provide a platform to compete with their peers."

Rewarding Gateway
In the journey of shaping aspiring students into dentists, the crucial role of faculty members is commendable in the college. "The College is proud of its full-time research-oriented faculty. All the faculty members are dedicated towards research and have applied for grants from various Governmental organizations," claims Mr. Bhojia. The faculty is also encouraged for various research programs in India and abroad to sharpen their skills and keep them abreast with the latest advancements in dentistry.

"We choose nothing other than the best, from the practical training to the theoretical deliverance, we take care of everything very minutely," states Mr Bhojia. The expertise that the students earn in the campus, enable them to become ample competent to start their own private practice or join several renowned hospitals. The award winners have reimbursed the registration charges for presenting papers, posters and participating in various sports at inter-college level. The college recruits the students at various faculty positions as well. There is the presence of a notice board on which various advertisements of job opportunities are displayed in several government and private institutions. Holding the vision to evolve as the best dental teaching institute of the region, the college is driven to inculcate more of research into the curriculum wherein various grants may be procured from the government.