The School of Dentistry (Dean Kwang-Yeop Song; hereinafter the School of Dentistry) has secured the hosting rights for the next meeting of the World Dental PBL (Problem-Based Learning) Conference, widely regarded as the leading international society in dental education.

The School of Dentistry announced that it dispatched Professors Kwang-Jun Ko, Byung-Geon Park, and Bong-Jik Seo to the 8th World Dental PBL Conference held last month at Malmö University School of Dentistry in Sweden, and succeeded in having the 9th conference in 2015 hosted by the university.

PBL (Problem-Based Learning) is a curriculum centered on real-life situations that integrates academic knowledge, skills, and attitudes. It is also a teaching–learning method that develops higher-order thinking and practical problem-solving abilities. Since 2005, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has implemented PBL across its entire curriculum and has achieved top national results each year on examinations such as the national licensure examination for dentists.

The conference, hosted by JBNU, holds special significance as it will be held in the tenth year since the university adopted the PBL approach. The event is expected to attract leading international scholars in dentistry, which is anticipated to significantly enhance the School of Dentistry's educational quality and academic reputation.

Moreover, hosting a major international conference is expected to generate significant economic effects and to play an important role in enhancing the image of North Jeolla Province and, more broadly, of the Republic of Korea.

Dean Kwang-Yeop Song said, "At the recent conference in Sweden, dispatched faculty including Professor Bong-Jik Seo delivered a presentation on \"Self-Perception of Students Who Completed the PBL Curriculum,\" which was well received, and the School of Dentistry has thus been recognized as conducting a highly leading educational program internationally. As this year marks the tenth anniversary of PBL adoption, hosting a major international conference is especially meaningful. We will make every effort to ensure thorough preparation so that international scholars will recognize the university, the region, and, more broadly, the Republic of Korea in a positive light and appreciate our standing."