MEASURING STUDENT'S PERCEPTIONS OF THE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT IN AN INDIAN DENTAL UNIVERSITY- A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Background : Understanding an educational program can assist with quality assurance by identifying where a program can be improved. Fundamental right of students to freely express their views and their active role in the decision-making process is a cornerstone of any academic program. Hence, the aim of the study was to understand the students' perceptions of the educational environment. Materials and Methods : A cross-sectional, descriptive, questionnaire-based study was conducted in a private dental school The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to gather information about the environment in the institution. The same was administered to first, second , third and final year students and the responses recorded. The collected data was statistically analyzed using the IBM SPSS software version 23, Comparisons were done using Student's t-test and the results depicted in graphs and tables. Results : The mean DREEM score of the study sample indicated a positive learning perception. There was a statistically significant difference between genders with respect to mean scores of perception of teachers. Conclusion : Dental students rated their learning environment as positive. It gives a valuable insight as to how students' view the course, enabling the school to address specific concerns.