UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH: PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
1.
Awarding
Institution/Body:
University of Greenwich,
University of Kent
2. Teaching
Institution:
3. Accredited by:
4. Final Award:
5. Programme Title/Subject Group
6. UCAS Code:
The Medway School
of Pharmacy
(co-joined School of
UGM, UoK)
RPSGB Accreditation
is being undertaken
MPharm (Pharmacy)
MPharm (Pharmacy)/
Medway School of Pharmacy
B23OK
ANNEX B
7. QAA Benchmarking
Gp(s)
Unit 5: Pharmacy and
Pharmacology
8. Educational Aims of the Programme:
The aim of the MPharm programme is to conjoin local hospital and community pharmacies, primary care trusts and regionally-based pharmaceutical companies to provide a Pharmacy degree
designed to meet the needs of the patient, the National Health Service and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for the 21 st century. The curriculum aims to develop and deliver a
pharmacy programme in an innovative and patient-focused manner and to enable students to deal effectively with change and the increasing complexities of the pharmacists’ role in the future.
This will meet the needs of the practicing pharmacist, so as to engage with the challenges of the complex and changing environment in which they will be working and will promote the concept of
lifelong learning. Ensuring that the Medway School of Pharmacy is at the leading edge of research and teaching in areas relevant to pharmacy will also enhance the Pharmacy programme and will
demonstrate successful, regional, inter-University collaboration, thereby promoting diversity and excellence in line with Government thinking.
9. The programme provides opportunities for learners to achieve the following
outcomes:[where relevant, provide reference to subject benchmarking statements]
10. The following teaching, learning and assessment methods are used to enable learners to
achieve and demonstrate these outcomes:
A Knowledge and understanding of:
- The patient, disease and drug action
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Essential Physiology and Pharmacology for Pharmacy
- Infectious Diseases, Anti-microbial Agents and Pharmacokinetics
- Molecular Biological and Immunological Bases of Disease
- Systems Pharmacology 1: Cardiovascular, Renal, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal,
Endocrine and Ocular Pharmacology
- Integrated Specialist Patient Group Care
- Systems Pharmacology 2: Neuroscience, Neurological Disorders and ImmunoPharmacology
- Practitioner and Patient
- Pharmacy Skills Framework (PSF) 1,2,3 and 4
- Pharmacy Practice
- Pharmacy Dispensing
- Medicinal Products (drug development, design properties, production and delivery)
- Medicines: Design and Manufacture 1 and 2
- Drug Delivery and Biopharmaceutics
- Medicinal Therapeutics and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Sustained Research Project (SRP)
- Medicines Management
- Pharmacy Law
- The Ethics of Healthcare
A Teaching and learning:
Lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory, pharmacy-practice training and student-centered
intensive workshops are given that are appropriate to the outcomes specified in the sixteen taught
course specifications. In addition, field trips and placements are integrated within the curriculum.
These are undertaken to introduce a holistic approach to the practice of pharmacy, to enable the
students to interact with other healthcare professionals, to understand the role of the pharmacist in
these relationships and to be able to relate complex theory to the patients.
Year 1 (Level C) – encompasses field trips of one-day duration to hospital, community, PCT and
industrial (non-sterile) environments. Year 2 (Level I) – provides the opportunity for visits to sterile
industrial and FDF production environments, and one-week placements in hospital, PCT and
community pharmacy environments. The emphasis on practice increases in year 3 (Level H), as
placements of three weeks duration are included to hospital community, industrial and PCT
environments. Placements and industrial visits continue to year 4 (Level M), although the choice of
placement will reflect the nature of the sustained research project (SRP).
Multi-media support will also be provided to facilitate and enhance the learning experience
particularly in an industrial context such as an introduction to the specifics of sterile manufacture of
medicines.
A Assessment Methods:
The assessment methods associated with each course are given in the course specifications. Various
combinations of coursework; practical laboratory sessions or pharmacy practice; dispensing
examinations; case studies; oral and poster presentations and formal examinations assess each course.
The nature of the assessment is appropriate to the subject area and learning outcomes outlined in the
course specification forms.
B Intellectual skills:
Recognising and using appropriate theories, concepts and principles from a range of
scientific disciplines
Integration of theory with practice
Apply in practice settings the knowledge and understanding required to meet the
needs of the patients and other healthcare professionals
Data acquisition, collation and appraisal
Interpretation of complex statistical information
Critical Evaluation: The ability to critically analyse, synthesise and summarise
pharmaceutical information and data
Apply knowledge and understanding to address familiar and novel problems
Demonstrate the awareness of the limitation of scientific models in the description
and representation of reality
Presentation of pharmacy-related arguments clearly and correctly, written and oral, to
specialists and lay audiences
Recognise and analyse novel problems and planning of strategies for their solution
Integrate Total Quality Management philosophies into an operational environment in
order to assure that the regulatory criteria of safety, quality, efficacy and potency are
routinely and consistently met
Production of Pharmacy-specific documentation
The ability to contribute to the development of healthcare through reflective practice
and innovation
B Teaching and learning
Intellectual skills are developed through intensive workshops, seminar work and coursework
assignments. The use of reflective practice and authorship of a sustained research project (SRP)
encourage teaching and learning activities.
The Pharmacy Skills Framework (PSF) and the Personal Skills Portfolio (PSP) are developed
throughout the programme. The PSP provides the medium through which the benefits of becoming a
reflective practitioner are developed, refined and ultimately demonstrated through specialist
placements, teacher-practitioner role-play guided workshops, and join, environment-based healthcare
professional learning interactions. The PSP is expected to give a transparent record of the
individual’s development toward clear, patient-oriented integrity and concern for care. The PSP
document will be a clear reflection of the quality of education received and the innovative and
supportive learning style intrinsic to this new programme. Students will be exposed to different
learning situations such as role play and case study approaches to develop their reflective practice.
Teacher practitioners and other healthcare professionals who will participate in the teaching
programme would supervise such sessions to facilitate learning in a safe and encouraging
environment.
C Subject Practical skills:
Safe handling of chemical/pharmaceutical materials (chemical/physical/hazardous
properties)
Conduct of standard pharmaceutical laboratory procedures
Planning, conducting, evaluating and reporting the results of investigations, including
the use of secondary data in this process
Operation of standard pharmaceutical instrumentation
Apply appropriate practical techniques to the solution of pharmaceutical drug
development and processing problems
Ability to critically evaluate and interpret purposively laboratory and clinical
observations and measurements, in terms of their significance and underlying theory
Ability to undertake risk assessment concerning pharmaceutical procedures and
practices
Analysis of Medicines
Using management techniques and information appropriately in the decision-making
process
Planning, design and execution of self-directed research (problem recognition,
selection of techniques and procedures, evaluation and appraisal of findings)
Competence in dispensing
Preparation and presentation of medicines, by manufacturing and extemporaneous
dispensing, including sterile products
Calculation of medicine dose and dosage requirements
Interpretation of prescriptions and other orders for medicines
The ability to advise patients and others on the safe and effective use of medicines
C Teaching and learning
Subject practical skills are developed in a coordinated and progressive manner throughout the
programme. These skills are highlighted in the tutor-led, student centered intensive workshops and
computer-based sessions. Pharmacy practice including training in pharmacy dispensing will be
coordinated with the Pharmacy Skills Framework (PSF).
Reflective practitioner skills are developed throughout the course in both work-based and class-based
scenarios. Group video analysis of simulated patient/pharmacist interactions will be made and
documented within the PSP and reflection upon communication skills in practice will also be included
in the portfolio. Teacher practitioners and other healthcare professionals will advise these teaching
and learning activities.
B Assessment Methods:
A variety of assessment methods are used that include, formal examinations, open book examinations,
essay coursework, numerical problem-solving coursework, oral presentations, poster presentations,
reflective practitioner journal entries from visits and placements and the development of a PSP.
Student centered learning involving library based research and oral presentations will be encouraged.
The PSP will be development and managed within the Practitioner and Patient strand of the MPharm
programme and is an integral part of the PSF. Each course, of the four that are studied per year, has
course-specific skills and academic learning outcomes. This enables all learning outcomes to be
assessed. Pieces of work that are skills-specific will be required from all strands for the PSP. The
work chosen will complement the specific skills learning outcomes mentioned in the Pharmacy Skills
Framework. Thus academic theory and pharmacy practice will be fused in order to provide a more
coherent and holistic approach to the development of high quality, effective patient-care.
C Assessment Methods:
A variety of assessment methods are used to assess subject practical skills. These include reflection
upon practice within placements and visits, reflection upon communication skills in practice, critical
review of the literature, computer generated and statistical evaluations of pharmaceutical data. The
development of the PSP is a vital component in the assessment of the skills required. A formal
dispensing examination is compulsory at all levels of this programme.
D Transferable/key skills:
Effective written and verbal communication
Interpersonal skills: The ability to interact with patients, public and healthcare
professionals
Appreciating issues of sample selection, accuracy, precision and uncertainty, in the
collection and analysis of data
The ability to understand the dangers of decision-making based on incomplete
information
Risk assessment in the laboratory and processing environments
Use of appropriate numerical and statistical problem-solving skills
Interpretation of the significance of general, biological and medical statistics
Competent in the use of IT (word processing, spreadsheet, database use, archiving
information and information retrieval)
Information retrieval: primary secondary information sources, including on-line
Internet communication
Able to work independently and as part of a team
The ability to plan projects and use appropriate time management skills
Positive attitude and constructive approach to group discussions
Listening to and appreciating the views of others
Critical ability, including the ability to analyse and critically appraise the literature
Reflective practice
Acquisition, transformation, interpretation and critical evaluation of data
Time management and organisation
Understanding the power and utility of SWOT analysis
Appreciating the need for professional codes of practice and conduct
Recognising the moral and ethical issues related to the subject
Working with an ethical attitude and approach
Taking responsibility for one’s actions
Taking a responsible attitude to academic and personal career development
The ability to keep up-to-date
Understand the need for CPD
Ability to operate within a quality management framework
D Teaching and learning
Computer, data-base management, problem-solving, teamwork, presentation skills, communication
skills and reflect practice are developed in a contextualized manner throughout the programme. These
skills are enhanced in seminars, workshops, coursework assignments, group video simulated
patient/pharmacist interactions, placement and visits and the authorship of the SRP. Student-centered
computer and information retrieval exercises are incorporated at all levels of the programme.
Key to the generation of a successful pharmacist, fit for the 21 st century, will be development of
reflective practice. Reflective practice will be encouraged and developed from day one to ensure that
graduates can relate all aspects studied to the practice of their profession. All placements and visits
will require reflective practitioner accounts to be written by students during their academic career at
Medway. The reflective practice accounts will enable the student to develop and refine their
individual approach to future CPD programmes.
D Assessment Methods:
A variety of assessment methods are used to assess transferable key skills. These include problem
solving assignments and peer-reviewed, team-based oral presentations, pharmacy practice simulations
and reflection upon communication in practice. The development of the PSP is a vital aspect of the
assessment of this programme that aims to develop a holistic approach to the training of pharmacy
graduates. These individual assessments are contextualised in A, B and C above.
11. Programme Structure, Levels, Modules and Credits
12. Awards, Credits and Progression of
Learning Outcomes
This programme is offered ONLY in the Full-time mode.
4
Systems Pharmacology 2: Neuroscience, Neurological Disorders and Immuno-Pharmacology (30
Credits)
Pharmacy Skills Framework 4 (30 Credits)
Medicinal Therapeutics and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (30 Credits)
Sustained Research Project (30 Credits)
MPharm (Pharmacy)
BSc HONS
-
Systems Pharmacology 1: Cardiovascular, Renal, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine and
Ocular Pharmacology (30 Credits)
Integrated Specialist Patient Group Care (30 Credits)
Pharmacy Skills Framework 3 (30 Credits)
Drug Delivery and Biopharmaceutics (30 Credits)
-
Infectious Diseases, Anti-microbial Agents and Pharmacokinetics (30 Credits)
Molecular Biological and Immunological Bases of Disease (30 Credits)
Pharmacy Skills Framework 2 (30 Credits)
Medicines: Design and Manufacture 2 (30 Credits)
Dip. HE
-
Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biochemistry (30 Credits)
Essential Physiology and Pharmacology for Pharmacy (30 Credits)
The Foundations of Pharmacy – Pharmacy Skills Framework 1 (30 Credits)
Medicines: Design and Manufacture 1 (30 Credits)
Cert. HE
-
Arrows indicate entry, exit and progression points
-
3
2
1
120 credits of which at least 90 credits must be at M
level.
Refer/Defer up to 30 credits
No compensation available for PSF 4
Fail more than 30 credits at the first attempt, may award
the BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Studies Degree
Pass proceed (120 credits)
Refer/Defer up to 30 credits
No compensation available for PSF 3
Fail 30 credits, may be considered for the award of a
BSC (Hons) Pharmaceutical Studies Degree
Pass proceed (120 credits), but must achieve an overall
mark of 50% to proceed to level 3
Refer/Defer up to 30 credits
No compensation available for PSF 2
Fail
Transfer to appropriate BSc degree programme within
UGM/UoK
The award of a Dip. He (Pharmacy) is not a recognised
qualification for Pharmacy registration
Pass proceed (120 credits)
Refer/Defer up to 30 credits
No compensation available for PSF 1
Fail
Transfer to appropriate BSc degree programme within
UGM/UoK
Withdraw
The award of a Cert. He (Pharmacy) is not a recognised
qualification for Pharmacy registration