About the School of Pharmacy
The School of Pharmacy has a long and distinguished history of producing graduate pharmacists of the highest calibre. It is, in fact, the oldest school of pharmacy in the United Kingdom. We do not, however, dwell on our past history but are concerned with providing a total learning experience that places emphasis on a patient-oriented, hands-on approach incorporating the most modern practices in pharmaceutical education.
Naturally, the undergraduate Master of Pharmacy course is fully accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and attracts students from all parts of the United Kingdom, the EEC (especially Ireland), the rest of Europe and internationally. In addition to the undergraduate programme we have a strong postgraduate programme of taught Diplomas/Masters in pharmacy related disciplines, supported by an active research community within the School. Currently, there are over 640 students in the School.
Pharmacy education in the later years of the course is centred around the unique state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Care Centre, which allows students to demonstrate competence in the full range of skills that are required by modern pharmacists. The Care Centre provides a learning experience that simulates real-life clinical situations, including interaction with other members of the healthcare team.
The School is located within the Schoolhill campus of the University, right at the heart of the city centre, close to all the usual city-centre facilities and adjacent to the recently refurbished Student Union.
Organisation
Management Structure
The School operates under the direction of the Head of School and the Associate Head of School, with responsibility for the academic management of courses delegated to Course Leaders. The delivery and review of all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment of modules within courses is the responsibility of four cognate groups of academic staff. The cognate groups reflect the principal curriculum areas associated with the study of pharmacy, namely Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Care, Biopharmaceutical Sciences, and Pharmaceutical Technologies.
Each of the groups has the responsibility for delivery and assessment of aspects of the taught curriculum that fall within the remit of the particular group. To ensure effective and integrated delivery of taught modules in many instances these are delivered with input by staff from different cognate groups. This illustrates the interactions that occur to ensure that all our students will benefit from student-centred, vocationally oriented undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Research is important to the School and is managed through the Research Committee under the direction of the Research Co-ordinator.
Staff details
Currently, the School has 24 academic staff supported by lecturers/practitioners and a significant number of visiting lecturers. Strong links are maintained with the local health care trusts with reciprocal practice and teaching being undertaken by staff from the School and the Trusts. This ensures that the students’ learning experience is constantly updated to reflect the most recent developments in both health care and teaching practice. The expertise of academic staff is evenly divided between pharmaceutical sciences and clinical and professional sciences.
Staff development
The development of all staff is given the highest priority by the University, which operates a well-funded and robust system of staff development. The purpose is to ensure that all teaching staff have the knowledge and expertise necessary to deliver teaching of the highest quality to our students. This allows staff to participate in national and international conferences and the like, a range of internal and external courses, visits to external organisations and many other activities. All staff are therefore in direct contact with the latest developments in pharmaceutical science and practice that is relevant to their needs in teaching and research.
All new lecturing staff are required to undertake a period of training, which includes participation in the University’s Tertiary Level Teaching Methods (TLTM) course. Most of the academic staff in the School have completed successfully the TLTM course.
School mission
The mission of the School of Pharmacy is synonymous with that of the University.
To provide high quality, practice based undergraduate and postgraduate education, research, consultancy and continuing professional development services in pharmacy and closely related fields.
