The Faculty of Pharmacy has a long history of innovative approaches to pharmacy education. The following examples illustrate the range of innovations currently being implemented:

Online PBL/case-based modules
CONTACT: Dr Sue Taylor

Disease state management workshops for undergraduates
CONTACT: A/Prof Ines Krass

Professional pharmacy externships
CONTACT: A/Prof Ines Krass

Ethics workshops for pharmacy students
Moral reasoning capabilities of pharmacy students in ethical decision making are developed in workshops specifically designed to promote ethical awareness and sensitivity, with a view to ultimately encouraging ethical behaviour. These workshops are based on concepts of Socratic Dialogue and the case study technique, using logical analysis and tools such as the Code of Professional Conduct in pharmacy and principles of bioethics. Students are encouraged to engage in critical and creative thinking by presenting them with scenario-based open ended questions for discussion first in groups, then with class in open debate. Students gain insight into the broad scope of professional ethics and become more confident in their decision making processes.
CONTACT: Betty Chaar

Fostering empathy
First year students are engaged in the process of considering other people’s points of view, particularly with respect to their experience of illness. This is achieved by starting with the students’ personal beliefs and attitudes regarding becoming a pharmacist, their family background and their perceptions regarding the challenges and concerns about university of life. Individual responses are then pooled and discussed in the light of group differences.
CONTACT: Dr Lorraine Smith

Enhancing communication skills
Students’ communications skills are developed and honed through the use of video cameras in small group role plays. Video enables immediate feedback on students’ verbal and non-verbal behaviours and an opportunity for identifying appropriate communications skills and mastery of more challenging communications skills.
CONTACT: Dr Lorraine Smith