Ajman University to Launch Modernized Pharmacy Curriculum

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Ajman University (AU), to better serve the community - patients in particular, has conducted a comprehensive review of its Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) program.

Professor Khaled Assaleh, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said the substantial changes made are meant to give a boost to pharmacy profession and improve the effectiveness and quality of the college's output.

“The program, to be officially launched in the first semester of academic year 2019-2020, is part of AU strategic plan to keep abreast of the latest developments and standards of pharmacy profession and education worldwide.”

The modernized pharmacy curriculum is expected to have a positive impact on the health of the patients in particular and the community in general, in view of UAE 2021 Vision aimed to turn UAE into a hub for excellence, he added.

“Ajman University has received the final approval on the revised BPharm program from the Council for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Education last month.”

Professor Nageeb Hassan, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, said the reshuffled program focuses on clinical and social pharmacy courses as well as intensive professional training.

“Credit hours are to be increased from 150 to 160 under the new program to comply with the recommendations of the Federation of Colleges of Pharmacy in the Arab world and ensure the equivalency of the degree worldwide.”

The number of credit hours allocated for clinical and social pharmacy courses have been doubled compared to old curriculum, by introducing new clinical and social pharmacy courses and increasing the number of credit hours of others, he elaborated. “Some credit hours of traditional courses have been reduced or removed.”

The AU BPharm program, initiated in 1998, received the international certification from the USA-based Accreditation Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) last year to be one of only 13 certified programs outside the United States, he said.

Ajman University, ranking among top 3% universities worldwide by QS, is also witnessing remarkable developments in academic programs, research and teaching infrastructure to enhance the educational and research activities.

In addition to ACPE international certification for BPharm program, AU has also obtained a number of other prestigious international accreditations for its programs in engineering, architecture and business administration.