Outline
The School of Pharmacy, under the principle that "Pharmacy is a science which uses medicine to contribute to the well-being of mankind," seeks to train professionals with a strong foundation in life sciences, elite pharmaceutical cognitive faculties, ethical viewpoints, and strong creative thinking by having them gain fundamental knowledge in the drug formulation, production, and management, the environment, and hygiene, as well as learning the duties of a pharmacist. For this reason, in 2006, the university established both the School of Pharmacy, a 6-year program with the goal of training pharmacists, and the School of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, a 4-year program specializing in training researchers. Then, the school moved on to establish the Research Institute for Drug Discovery which supports the educational research activities of the School of Pharmaceutical and Life Science, and is the first of its kind among national pharmacy universities in Japan.
The goal of having two courses in the School of Pharmacy is, in addition to preserving the reputation of the school up until now, to take advantage of the university's synthesis of medical studies, and achieve the School of Pharmacy's long-held educational goals of raising leading pharmacists in both clinical and research settings, as well as researchers who can compete on the international level in the fields of drug discovery studies and life science.
Characteristics of the School of Pharmacy
Promotion of Small Classroom Education
From year one, the School of Pharmacy gives it students many opportunities for education in small groups, and its homeroom teacher system provides each student personalized academic counseling. At the School of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, 30 laboratory staff oversee the education of 35 first year students. By their third year, students are separated into their respective laboratories, where they make their first forays into the world of research while working closely with teachers and graduate students. The experience of students getting to choose their own research theme and conduct experimental research lets them learn about the conditions on the front lines of research. At the School of Pharmacy, students enroll in a laboratory in their third year, and through this four-year experience, develop a wide-breadth of pharmaceutical knowledge and a spirit of inquiry, beyond just the clinical training and the necessary studies to pass the national pharmacist examination.
Enriching Teacher Organization
Our Faculty of Life Science blends teachers with backgrounds in pharmacy, medicine, and health sciences, and these features are used to provide an enriching, coordinated approach to both research and education at the university. Currently, our department provides an enriching educational organization, consisting of 20 core courses, 8 courses from Kumamoto University's own world-renowned Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics and Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, 1 donated course, and 1 coordinated course for a total of 30 courses. Furthermore, the School of Pharmacy's three centers (the Research Institute for Drug Discovery, the Center for Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Eco-Frontier Center of Medicinal Resources) also contribute to the academic experience, and support is given to students' drive for independent education and research.
Enriching Education and Research Environments
The School of Pharmacy is equipped with complete, and continuously updated resources for researching the structures and properties of unknown substances, and these facilities support the education and research of graduate students of the department. In addition, in 2006, the Research Institute for Drug Discovery was established, the first of its kind among national pharmacy schools in Japan. Meanwhile, to achieve superior clinical education, the School of Pharmacy employs teaching staff with ample clinical experience, has two clinical pharmaceutical education departments, implemented the Clinical Professor System in 2009, established the Center for Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2008, the Mock Pharmacy in 2009, and the Eco-Frontier Center of Medicinal Resources in 2010, which bridges the gap between both academic courses. Furthermore, the university has donated courses taught by the staff of both programs, and excellent affiliated facilities and cooperating departments and facilities.
Ecopharma Initiatives
In Sept. 2001, the School of Pharmacy received Japan's first International Standards in Environmental Management ISO14001 certification. The school adopted the Program for Human Development for Ecopharma Responsibility as an applicant for a MEXT: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2008 Program for Promoting High-Quality University Education, and the initiative was praised for uniting students and staff. The central elements of this program included recycling systems, environmental conversation activity surveys targeting corporations, training at central government offices, field work in foreign countries, and interpersonal exchange with victims of Minamata disease and chemical hazards. Through this program, the university hopes to train socially conscious and active pharmacists with superior environmental management skills, who can contribute to their local and international societies.
