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The roots of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kumamoto
University (Kumayaku) originated from the medicinal herbal garden,"Banjien",
founded 250 years ago during the Hohreki times in 1757 by Lord
Hosokawa of the Higo feudal domain. After several changes in
organization and name (Kumamoto Pharmaceutical College in 1885,and
Kumamoto Pharmaceutical School in 1925), the school was incorporated
into Kumamoto University in 1949. Since 1885, Kumayaku has been
proud of its prominent tradition as a higher educational institution
of Pharmacy for 118 years. The number of graduates including
postgraduates who completed their studies in Kumayaku has reached
about 9,500. Kumayaku graduates competently play an active role
in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, government and municipal
offices, hospitals, retail pharmacies, etc. as researchers,
engineers, or pharmacists. The principle of Pharmacy as an
applied science that contributes to people's health through
medicine is the foundation of Kumayaku. The training of talented
and creative persons who possess advanced pharmaceutical thinking
based on life sciences and ethics continue to be our main
educational target. The curriculum has been revised radically.
For example, the lecture materials and practical studies have
been updated and tailored to respond to various requests by
the pharmaceutical field, as well as the ever-advancing medical
field, with the aim of producing highly qualified people who
can actively take part in the fields of drug discovery, medical
treatment, the environment and public health, and the administrative
sector. Accommodating and pragmatic criteria for accepting
students have been created in order to attract talented students
who have the potential to become top scientists or specialists
in the fields of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences. In
this respect, entrance examinations are exempted for those
who fulfill the requirements of undergraduate acceptance,
through admission by recommendation, as well as postgraduate
student (pharmacist or research assistant) acceptance through
special student selection.
The Graduate School established a doctoral course major in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1985 for students who have completed their undergraduate studies and wish to pursue postgraduate degrees. In addition, two separate postgraduate courses in Pharmacy are being offered, namely, Clinical Pharmacy major (established in 1988) which aims at cultivating highly competent pharmacists, and a Molecular & Genomic Pharmacy major (established in 2001) which aims at genome drug discovery. In 2003, all academic staff of the medical school and pharmacy school join the Faculty of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in order to respond with greater flexibility to the current rapid progress in life science fields as well as varying social needs. Students of the graduate school will receive postgraduate education under either two of the educational organizations, namely, the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences or the Medical Sciences. The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences aims at the training of researchers for genome/fundamental drug discovery, for life and environmental science and the training of clinical pharmacists through the Drug Development major and Life Science & Pharmaceutical Science major program.
Kumayaku has a serene and well-organized campus surrounded
by large green camphor trees, where excellent facilities and
equipment are readily available in the campus compound. Working
within its premises is a delightful privilege. We can work
together to achieve our common dream of creating safe and
highly effective new drugs in Kumayaku where the tradition
of excellence continues! |
