Co-creation: a collaborative odyssey in dental education with students at the helm

Co-creation may be described as collaborative innovation towards a shared goal. It is increasingly being applied in education to develop interventions to support the development of various aspects of educational programmes, including dental education. Students are valuable partners in the process and their unique perspective allows for relevant and novel curricular developments. Other stakeholders within an institution, such as educators, subject experts and programme leads, are also frequently involved. The co-creation process has been reported to be mutually beneficial for all parties. Benefits of co-creation for students include the development of personal and professional skills that are not conventionally taught within a curriculum. Staff can feel more inspired and engaged. The process can lead to more inclusive and socially relevant curricula. There are also associated challenges, such as gaining adequate support and buy-in from stakeholders to ensure success. This paper explores the concept of co-creation and its application in education, providing recommendations on how it may be successfully applied within the context of dental education.