Speaking to the press, Professor S.R Prabhu, the Dean of the College said, “We have brought in well experienced faculty members from around the world, and our BDS program has been accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE. Our primary objective is to train world class dental professionals, who are well versed in all aspects of dentistry and are committed to serving the communities they live and work in.”

RAK CODS is building its own dedicated dental hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, which will help serve the local community and also act as a venue for the internship of its BDS students. The college currently has students from UAE, Pakistan, India, Russia, Canada and the United States.

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah laid the foundation stone of the Ras Al Khaimah College of Dental Sciences (RAK CODS) for its permanent campus located adjacent to the Saqr Hospital.

RAK CODS is a constituent college of RAK Medical Health and Sciences University. Speaking on the occasion Sheikh Saud said, “A high quality of education is highly critical to the future of both our country and the emirate. We need to focus on bringing in the latest programs and courses for our children.” He added that, “RAK is fast emerging as center for higher learning and research in the Middle East, and RAK CODS with its international curriculum and problem based learning will help train world class dentists and oral health care professionals.”

Speaking at the ceremony Mr. Hassan Khan the CEO of the college said, “RAK CODS is committed to making its contribution to the growth of the education sector in UAE, and will focus on bringing in the latest courses in Dentistry from around the world.” The college has brought together an International faculty led by the Dean Dr. Soorebettu Prabhu. Addressing the gathering the Vice Chancellor Dr. Gurmadhav Rao, said, “Dentistry is a career with great potential, and is much in demand along with our other three programs, MBBS, Nursing and Pharmacy.”

Sheikh Saud also launched the new RAK CODS website, and its scholarship program thebeststudent.com which is offering three scholarships every year for its BDS Program. He told the gathering that everyone in the field of academics should help enable education, and create systems to enable deserving students to get the best possible education. Students can go online at www.thebeststudent.com and apply for the scholarships.

Mr. Hassan Khan also informed the gathering that RAK CODS is currently in the process of introducing a M.Sc. in Lasers in Dentistry program in collaboration with the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. Prof.Dr.Norbert Gutknecht, from the Aachen Dental Laser Center at RWTH Aachen University Hospital who has joined RAK CODS, said “Laser dentistry is the future, and the course will be an excellent opportunity for specialization for practicing dentists”. The program will be introduced later this year, after accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, UAE.

Speaking at the launch the CEO, Mr. Hassan Khan said, “There is significant shortage of trained Dentists around the world, and this gap is clearly evident in both the developing and the underdeveloped world. Dentistry is an excellent career path, with a very bright future for students.” There are approximately 1.8 million dentists around the world, and the Dentist to Population ratio in some parts of Africa stands at more than 1:100,000. Thebeststudent.com scholarship will offer three seats named as, The Scholar, The Challenger and The Aspirant every year to deserving students giving them 100%, 60% and 40% scholarship respectively.

Students can apply for the scholarships by filling up the registration form online, on the campaign website www.thebeststudent.com. The scholarships will be awarded based on the academic performance, a face to face interview, and 250 word essay on how the candidate will use his education to contribute to the development of dentistry and oral health in his country of origin.

Prof.Dr.Norbert Gutknecht, from the Aachen Dental Laser Center at RWTH Aachen University Hospital said, “Dentistry is perfectly suited as a career for female students, and it gives them a great opportunity to become professionally qualified, trained and self reliant in a skill which is much in demand. We expect a lot of applications from female students from around the GCC.” Ms. Asma Al Harthy, an educational counselor and a visitor at the RAK CODS stand said, “A number of students from Oman go to other GCC countries for higher studies, and programs like thebeststudent.com would be a great help to them.”

The winners of the scholarship will be announced in the second week of August, later this year. Ms. Sameera Al Habsi, a grade 12th student from Muscat said, “GHEDEX is an excellent opportunity for students to choose from various courses from all around the world, and programs like thebeststudent.com are really helpful especially in the light of the current economic downturn. They will go a long way in helping the deserving students achieve their educational ambitions.” She added that more scholarships like these should be announced by other colleges and academic institutions as well.”