History and Mission of the Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Dentistry: Background and Purpose

São Leopoldo Mandic College (MANDIC) has been active in higher education for nearly two decades and is headquartered in the city of Campinas, São Paulo. The Regional Society for Education and Health operates the following educational institutions: São Leopoldo Mandic College; São Leopoldo Mandic College in Araras; the São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center; and the São Leopoldo Mandic Center for Dental Research.
These institutions belong to the São Leopoldo Mandic Educational Group.

The sponsoring entity, SLMANDIC, is guided by its General Regulations, Higher Education Legislation, and the Bylaws of its sponsoring entity, the Regional Society for Education and Health, which, since its inception, has remained committed to its affiliated institution in the development of academic activities and in the maintenance and expansion of its physical infrastructure, as outlined in the Institutional Development Plan.

The sponsoring entity, Sociedade Regional de Ensino e Saúde, and SLMANDIC—in a constant effort to understand contemporary needs in health management—have as their mission to educate, train, and provide continuing education with excellence to healthcare professionals through advanced academic and technological means, grounded in research and a human-centered approach to patient care. Our goal is to be a leader in the field of health and in educational practices, recognized for excellence in research and the application of technology; to lead the concept of quality in healthcare, academic and administrative management; in patient care; and in respect for sustainability and interpersonal relationships. Seeking to establish a foundation for research that interfaces with undergraduate education, we decided to create the undergraduate program in Dentistry, with a pedagogical curriculum focused on contemporary healthcare management needs, in accordance with the region’s socioeconomic reality. In 2003, the sponsoring entity, Sociedade Regional de Ensino e Saúde S/S Ltda. (SRES), obtained accreditation for the São Leopoldo Mandic School of Dentistry, pursuant to MEC Ordinance No. 3,112 of October 31, 2003, published in the Official Gazette on November 4, 2003, for the Dentistry program, a bachelor’s degree program with 60 daytime enrollment slots. The program began in 2004 and was accredited with the highest rating of 5 (five) under the terms of SESU Ordinance No. 498, published in the Federal Official Gazette on August 18, 2006. In 2014, pursuant to Ordinance No. 820, published in the Official Gazette on December 30, 2014, the accreditation was renewed, again with the highest rating of 5.

In 2004, the Ministry of Education (MEC) granted SLMANDIC a renewal of authorization, through Ordinance No. 2,530, to offer the Graduate Program in Dentistry —Professional Master’s Degree track—in accordance with CNE/CES Opinion No. 050/2004, approved by the MEC in the Official Gazette of the Union via Ordinance No. 2,610, dated August 25, 2004. In 2005, the MEC granted SLMANDIC, through Administrative Order No. 2,878, authorization to offer the Graduate Program in Dentistry — Master’s and Academic Doctorate programs—in accordance with CNE/CES Opinion No. 65, approved by the MEC in the Federal Official Gazette on May 22, 2006.

To meet the new aspirations and needs of its geographic catchment area, the institution expanded its scope of operations by offering the Medicine program in 2013, as provided for in the Institutional Development Plan and Ordinance No. 132 of March 20, 2013. Under the terms of this Ordinance, published in the Federal Official Gazette on March 21, 2013, the MEC approved, with a perfect score of 5 (five), the undergraduate medical program at São Leopoldo Mandic, to be offered at the Campinas campus. Upon launching the medical program, the institution’s name was changed from São Leopoldo Mandic School of Dentistry to São Leopoldo Mandic College – SLMANDIC. This change was decided and approved at the 86th Meeting of the institution’s Governing Council, held on May 28, 2015, forwarded to the MEC, and formalized by MEC Ordinance No. 801 of October 26, 2015.

Since the creation of the Institution’s General Index of Evaluated Courses (IGC), the institution has maintained a rating of 5—the highest possible score—in this evaluation. In 2016, it achieved a score of 4.4717 on the Continuous IGC. In previous years, it maintained a grade of 5, consistently ranking among the top 10 higher education institutions in this ranking.

These figures are the result of SLMANDIC’s institutional commitment, whose vision is to be a leader in the field of health and in educational practices, recognized for excellence in research, human resources training, and technological development. It is within this institutional context that the Professional Master’s Degree in Dentistry at São Leopoldo Mandic College is offered.