Introduction

IDCMR Background

The development of human resources in dental education among countries in the Southeast Asian region is a key factor in enhancing knowledge and capabilities, enabling these nations to integrate into a collaborative network that builds a stronger society and benefits public health.

Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry is one of the leading and comprehensive institutions in the region that provides education and personnel development in the field of dentistry. The faculty has overseen various projects such as oral health education programs, community oral health development through treatment services, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Mobile Dental Center, and collaborative oral health research projects to create innovations.

Under the Royal Dental Service Project, dental treatment, prevention, and oral health promotion have been provided to students in schools under royal initiative and to nearby communities. Her Royal Highness has graciously suggested the development of dental personnel to enable participation and enhance the capabilities of dental professionals for the sustainable benefit of neighboring countries—for example, General and Technical Education Demonstration High School of Kampong Chheuteal under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Kampong Thom Province, Kingdom of Cambodia.

Given its potential and leadership, Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry, initiated the establishment of the International Dental Collaboration of the Mekong River Region (IDCMR) in 2004, under the leadership of Clinical Professor Emeritus Jurai Nakapaksin, with the objective of advancing dental education and creating balance and equity in dental knowledge throughout the Mekong region.

The initial network included 7 institutions from 5 countries:

1. Faculty of Odonto-stomatology, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2. School of Stomatology, Kunming Medical University, Ministry of Health, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
3. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
4. School of Odonto-Stomatology, Hanoi Medical University, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
5. Faculty of Odonto-stomatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ministry of Health, Ho Chi Minh City, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
6. Faculty of Dentistry, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ministry of Health, Can Tho, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
7. Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, Thailand

This collaboration supports national policy on regional cooperation with neighboring countries, strengthening international relations along border regions, promoting Thai arts and culture, and serving as a platform for academic, service, and research collaboration in dentistry, with Thailand as the central coordination hub.

Since its establishment in 2004, Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry has taken a leading role in fostering sustained collaboration in dental education and professional development across the Mekong region through annual executive and academic meetings, as well as faculty and student exchange programs.

Summary of IDCMR Annual Meetings and New Members

2^nd Meeting (April 4–5, 2005)
Host: Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

New member: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia, Indonesia

3^rd Meeting (October 16–18, 2006)
Host: School of Stomatology, Kunming Medical University, China

4^th Meeting (November 18–21, 2007)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Thailand

5^th Meeting (October 14–16, 2009)
Host:  School of Odonto-Stomatology, Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam

2010 IDCMR Seminar on “Education Technology for Cyber Generation” (October 21–22, 2010)

Host:  Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Thailand
New member: Faculty of Dentistry, International University, Cambodia

6^th Meeting (December 8–9, 2011)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

7^th Meeting (December 6–7, 2012)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao PDR

8^th Meeting (December 5–6, 2013)
Host: Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, University of Health Sciences, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

New members:

• Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Puthisastra, Cambodia
• University of Dental Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar
• University of Dental Medicine, Yangon, Myanmar
• Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

9^th Meeting (December 4–5, 2014)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia,

Venue: held at Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Bali, Indonesia

10^th Meeting (June 7–9, 2015)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Thailand

• • New member: Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand

11^th Meeting (November 17–19, 2016)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

12^th Meeting (October 19–20, 2017)
Host: Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• • New member: Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, India

13^th Meeting (August 24–25, 2018)
Host: University of Dental Medicine, Yangon, Myanmar

University of Dental Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar

• • New member: Hong Bang International University Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Vietnam

14^th Meeting (October 27–28, 2019)
Host: School of Stomatology, Kunming Medical University, China

2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic

15^th Meeting (August 20–21, 2021)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia, held virtually (online)

16^th Meeting (October 27–28, 2022)
Host: Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, India

17^th Meeting (October 14–15, 2023)
Host: Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

• • New members:
    • Faculty of Dentistry, MAHSA University, Malaysia
    • Faculty of Dentistry, VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

18^th Meeting (October 24–25, 2024)
School of Dentistry, Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam

• • New members:
    • School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
    • Faculty of Dentistry, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Vietnam

Current Members (20 Institutions from 9 Countries):

Active Member

1. International University Faculty of Dentistry, Cambodia
2. University of Health Sciences Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Cambodia
3. University of Puthisastra Faculty of Dentistry, Cambodia
4. Kunming Medical University School of Stomatology, China
5. Universitas Indonesia Faculty of Dentistry, Indonesia
6. University of Health Sciences Faculty of Dentistry, Lao PDR
7. Universiti Teknologi MARA Faculty of Dentistry, Malaysia
8. MAHSA University Faculty of Dentistry, Malaysia
9. Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Dental Sciences, Malaysia
10. University of Dental Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar
11. University of Dental Medicine, Yangon, Myanmar
12. Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry, Thailand
13. Prince of Songkla University Faculty of Dentistry, Thailand
14. Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Vietnam
15. Hanoi Medical University School of Dentistry, Vietnam
16. University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Vietnam
17. Hong Bang International University Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Vietnam
18. VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty of Dentistry, Vietnam
19. Nguyen Tat Thanh University Faculty of Dentistry, Vietnam

Affiliated member

20. Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, India

Objectives of IDCMR

IDCMR aims to foster sustainable academic cooperation among dental education institutions in the Mekong River Region and neighboring countries. The collaboration focuses on strengthening oral health resources, promoting knowledge exchange, and advancing education, training, and research through the following key objectives:

1. To develop human resources and provide financial resources to support both short-term and long-term collaboration.
2. To promote data exchange and organize annual scientific meetings.
3. To support the development of undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.
4. To encourage the exchange of faculty, students, and staff.
5. To initiate and promote collaborative research among member institutions.

Over the years, the network has continuously facilitated the exchange of dental personnel and undergraduate dental students, primarily focusing on Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, and Thailand. It fosters the sharing of opinions and collaborative dental education to align with the specific needs of each country. Furthermore, it has established a regional knowledge-sharing network and serves as a learning organization, promoting international academic collaboration.

Since its inception, Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry has been honored to serve as the central coordinating institution and Secretariat Office of the International Dental Collaboration of the Mekong River Region (IDCMR).