An evaluation of the pharmacy degree at the University of Gothenburg carried out by the Swedish Higher Education Authority has shown that the education is of high quality. The evaluation concluded that the education given at Uppsala University is also of high quality, while the authority was critical of the education in Umeå. Gothenburg was the only one of the three higher education institutions that received an assessment of Very High Quality for one of the qualitative targets.
The qualitative target for which the pharmacy education in Gothenburg is assessed as having Very High Quality concerns the student’s ability to apply scientific documentation, and to seek, evaluate and critically interpret relevant information in order to be able to analyze and solve problems.
“It’s extremely gratifying to be given top marks for this particular target, since it is based on high-quality degree projects. It is here that our program has a very strong coupling to research,” says Patrik Aronsson, chairman of the Education Board for the Pharmacy Program.
The pharmacy program in Gothenburg has a stronger focus on fields such as biochemistry than the two other programs in Sweden, and the research-preparatory profile is pronounced. A further characteristic of the program is that it is given in collaboration between three faculties at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology.
“We can now see clearly that this broad collaboration is truly beneficial. During interviews at the higher education institutions the positive team spirit that we have within the large teaching community working with the pharmacy program in Gothenburg came over strongly,” says Patrik Aronsson. He is also happy that the Higher Education Authority received the university’s self-assessment so positively, where both Tove Hedenrud and Gunnar Tobin had made critical contributions.
“The main reason that we did so well in the evaluation is, of course, the work that is put in by the heads of course and teachers,” adds Patrik Aronsson
The positive evaluation from the Higher Education Authority is a stamp of quality, and recognition of the active work with quality assurance carried out within the program. Application numbers for the program have been increasing in recent years.
Statistics recently presented by the Higher Education Authority show that the pharmacy program has the highest fraction of students with a non-Swedish background among all of the occupationally oriented programs. As many as 75% of the students on pharmacy programs in Sweden have a non-Swedish background, and half of the students were born outside of Sweden.
“It’s a great privilege to be involved with running such a solid education with so many students with a non-Swedish background. Our students graduate and take responsible jobs, making a contribution in the Swedish health and medical care system. This is particularly relevant in the light of the result of the recent general election in Sweden,” concludes Patrik Aronsson.
The complete evaluation (in Swedish) from the Higher Education Authority can be found at: http://uka.se/nyheter/apotekarexamenhogkvalitetigoteborgochuppsalabristandeiumea.5.7ff11ece146297d1aa61c6.html