The European Dental Students` Association (EDSA) is a non-profitable, non-political organisation. It was founded in 1988 in Paris and has a reliable network of more than 65.000 dental students in 182 dental schools in 28 countries. The registered offices of the Association are established in Dublin, Ireland. The primary aim is to promote and develop international contacts and to exchange ideas, as well as to improve the knowledge of dental students. The association also aims to introduce students to the dental industry and educational system of other countries, creating a globally connected student community.

The members of EDSA are willing to broaden their horizons by visiting different cultures and educational systems and by working together in multicultural teams during EDSA workshops. Delegates representing each country are both active on national and European level. They promote student activities and establish and develop close relations with professional and academic authorities and associations.

So far, we have participated in two meetings in 2014, Kosice, Slovakia (March) and in Riga, Latvia (August). We realized that a membership in the EDSA would offer Hungary a better academic exchange within students to discuss and enhance the dental studies. You can learn a lot about the different systems that are being used in the different European countries which helps you to form more educated opinions.

Another big factor which comes into mind when talking about the EDSA is the fact that you get to know a lot of people all over Europe. As you can imagine the meetings consist of like-minded people who are open to new countries and cultural experiences. On this basis the EVP (European Visiting Program) has been established. It is an academic visiting program (not an exchange program where you write exams!) in which you can spend anything between one week and a month in a foreign country at one of the member universities. There you can freely choose the classes you are interested in and get a first-hand experience about the way dentistry is taught in other countries.

We are very happy to have made these experiences and to be able to host the 2015 meeting in August in Szeged! We think joining the EDSA can greatly enrich your whole study experience and offers you a great forum to talk about your ideas and experiences.

To-be EDSA members program:

Ben Furtenhofer II. year student in the English language

Philipp Furtenhofer II. year student in the English language

Zsófia Lengyel II. year student