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The relationship between volunteering and dental students’ academic performance An analysis of the results obtained from a survey that was done among students of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania
Măriuca Rizea, Florin Froimovici, Romania
Introduction
C
aught up in the demanding intensity of dental school, students are reluctant about actively committing time as volunteers in student associations. It is often felt, understandably, that the effort and time volunteering activities require has a detrimental impact on academic performance. This was a hypothesis worth exploring, as volunteering could also be conversely construed as a positive influence on the performance of dental students in their studies. A survey to gauge an association between the two factors felt worthwhile. It is widely acknowledged that during University, getting involved in a volunteer program can help you discover yourself, strive for ideals, dedicate yourself to a cause and acquire both academic and non-academic skills. You enjoy the opportunity to put your own projects into practice, you have the opportunity to support those around you, interact with people with whom you will
be able to discuss topics of shared interest and participate in important events. In addition, you are able to network and create lasting relationships and connections that may prove beneficial in the future. You collect impactful memories, invaluable experience and moments that are unmatched. To be a volunteer means to experiment, to create, to innovate, to develop and, hopefully, to be fulfilled. With a survey planned that explored this association, we felt there was scope to challenge the presupposition that volunteering inevitably leads to poor academic performance.
The survey
A questionnaire was put together and distributed among the students of all years of study in the Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila’’, Bucharest, Romania. The questionnaire consisted of 5 multiple answer questions that regarded academic performance, volunteering activities and the students’ perception of their
correlation, therefore providing an overview of the relationship between volunteering and academic performance: The answers provided were in-
1. “Have you been an active volunteer in an association during 2018-2019?”, 2. “What was the average of your grades between 2018-2019?”, 3. “Did you have other extracurricular activities that you practiced in 2018-2019?”, 4. “Do you spend more time learning or volunteering for associations?”, and 5. “Have you ever missed courses or internships in favour of volunteering within an association?”
tended to assess the composition of academic involvement with the average grades, using the Romanian national grading system.
Spring 2021
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