South East Technological University (SETU) welcomes its approval to offer a new Masters of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme, aiming to address the skills demands of the healthcare sector and contribute to the vibrant pharma industry of the region.
The announcement by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Patrick O'Donovan TD at an event at the University of Limerick (UL) today aligns with SETU’s strategic plan and builds on SETU’s established expertise in pharmaceutical science and biosciences, underpinned by research at the Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC).
Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, welcomed the Government’s decision, saying it reflects strong support for the University’s long-term ambitions for the south east region.
“Pharmacy is a highly sought-after programme of relevance to the south east that will act as a magnet for talent, consistent with national and regional strategies. As the only university in the region, SETU is delighted to be chosen to provide this new pharmacy programme,” stated Professor Campbell, while expressing gratitude to the Government and the HEA for their leadership in addressing critical national skills shortages.
In 2022, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) initiated plans to expand capacity in health-related programmes, including pharmacy. Following a rigorous independent assessment, SETU’s proposal was successfully endorsed.
“SETU is now poised to deliver an innovative Integrated MPharm programme that prepares students for roles in hospitals, community pharmacies, the (bio)pharmaceutical industry and new emerging practice areas. SETU is working with APPEL (Affiliation for Pharmacy Practice Experiential Learning) to ensure our students will complete experiential learning placements in hospitals, pharmacies and industries across Ireland. These highly trained graduates, with skills aligned to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists, will be transformative for both the University and the region,” the SETU President said.
Professor Campbell acknowledged the many individuals who contributed to the realisation of the new programme, stating, “A committed team from across SETU and the region worked diligently on the application. I would like to congratulate Professor Peter McLoughlin, Head (Waterford) Faculty of Science and Computing, and the entire Programme Development team for their exceptional efforts.”
Prof. McLoughlin praised the key members of the Programme Development team, including Dr Claire Lennon, Pharmacy Programme Development Lead, stating, “This success has been built on the exceptional hard work of a large cross-campus team supported by our partners in UHW, UPMC, in industry, community pharmacists from the region and international academics. Their foresight and support enabled us to succeed in this highly competitive process.”
Dr Claire Lennon said, “Our team have worked extremely hard during this process, and we are delighted to receive confirmation today of our selection. Consultation with and support from our stakeholders has been pivotal to this success and will ensure our Masters of Pharmacy programme prepares graduates for the many areas of modern pharmacy practice, meeting the skills needs of the sector.”
Acknowledging the support of numerous stakeholders, from community, hospital and industry settings to the region’s public representatives, Prof. Campbell said, “Their unwavering backing has been instrumental in advancing the provision of a pharmacy programme here in the south east.”
In conclusion, Prof. Campbell stated, “We very much look forward to bringing this programme to fruition and are actively working towards accreditation from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland in 2025 with the inclusion of the new programme in the CAO listing in 2025/26 to provide for an annual intake of 40 students.
