New funding for student pharmacists at RGU

The funding will support the current experiential learning (EL) that student pharmacists undertake in community pharmacies and hospitals and expand this into primary care, and other venues.

The scheme, called 'Scottish Pharmacy Experiential Learning', is being organised in partnership between Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and other pharmacy stakeholders.

This new funding will allow development and expansion of existing EL to meet the requirements of pharmacists moving forward. Funding for training providers will help release facilitators to spend dedicated time supporting student pharmacists during experiential learning.

Funding for students will cover travel and subsistence, if appropriate depending on the location of the placement, allowing them to experience remote and rural practice.

Dr Brian Addison, MPharm Course Leader at RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, said: “This Experiential Learning scheme is a prime example of how RGU is working to provide demand-led opportunities for our students to enhance their skills in a professional environment.

"Not only does this work-based learning give them excellent experience putting their knowledge into practice, but it also offers them the chance to build the kinds of contacts which could become invaluable as they head into the workforce as the Pharmacists of the future.”

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Rose Marie Parr said: “This funding will enhance the experiential learning of student pharmacists, making the hands-on experience more fruitful and maximising support to students.

“It is vital that we continue to invest in our pharmacists of the future, so that the use of medicines can be optimised and ensure that patients continue to get the best results from their medicines. I would like to thank the Universities and NHS partners for taking forward this exciting initiative.”

Professor Anne Watson, Postgraduate Pharmacy Dean at NES said: “We want to give our Student Pharmacists the best possible education, so that they have the right blend of skills to hit the ground running when they graduate. Learning in the workplace is an important part of that, and it’s great news that we can now support both the students and those who give up valuable time to support them.”