UNVERSITY Ss CYRIL AND METHODIUS
FACULTY OF PHARMACY
The Faculty of Pharmacy at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje is the highest educational, scientific and health institution in the field of pharmacy in Republic of Macedonia. It is located in the center of Skopje within the complex “Clinical Center Majka Tereza” (within the Medical University Campus) and it extends over a total area of 3000 m2 where are incorporated: five institutes, seven centers, 11 laboratories, three amphitheaters, e-library and administrative department.
It was founded in 1977, after performing analysis, it was established that there is deficit of pharmaceutical staff in Macedonia, for the requirements of the healthcare system, the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry and other social needs. The decision to establish the faculty was decided on the 4th of April, 1977 by the University Council at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, when a working group of eminent professors and economic workers was formed to prepare the project for the socio-economic justification of establishing the Faculty of Pharmacy that will be offering the pharmacy studies in the country. The Faculty officially started working in November 1977 when the first generation of undergraduates was enrolled. A four-year study program was introduced for obtaining the title “Graduate Pharmacist”.
During its 40 years of existence, the Faculty has developed extensive and rich portfolio of activities in many areas including teaching, education, science and research.
Today, the teaching process of the Faculty on undergraduate level offers three study programs: five-years integrated studies for acquiring the title “Master in Pharmacy”, three-year studies for “Graduated Laboratory Bioengineers” and three-year studies for “Graduated Dietitian/Diet Therapist”. On the postgraduate level there are 11 programs of the second cycle of studies, nine programs of specialist studies in the field of health care and the third cycle – doctoral studies.
High quality criteria and educational standards are implemented in the study programs offered by the Faculty. Learning methods, knowledge transfer and adequate evaluation of the acquired knowledge and skills are established, which are on the level to those of the leading European and world institutions in this field. The faculty is a member of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy, which enables the Faculty to be attentive in the new trends in pharmaceutical education, to be in line with latest tendencies, to meet the requirements for creating qualified pharmaceutical professionals, trained and able to work in all spheres of pharmacy, harmonized within the European Directive for recognition of qualifications in regulated professions.
As a high-educational institution that aims to be recognizable in Europe and worldwide, it is embedded in the values of the organization that high-quality scientific-research activity is the basis for creating a good educational system. This is the reason, why the Faculty of Pharmacy from the very first beginning advocates development and promotion of the scientific and research activity, as a measurable parameter of the success and the quality of the higher education that we conduct. The consolidation of the Faculty, the expansion of the teaching and research capacity, as well as the establishment of higher university standards, led to increase the scientific and research activity of the Faculty, confirmed through notable scientific results. These results are presented to the domestic and global scientific public in the form of articles, monographs, lectures and other forms of scientific communication.
The Faculty of Pharmacy has so far produced a number of scientific research projects, mostly international (TEMPUS PHARE program, the TUBITAK program, the NATO Peace Research program, SEE.ERA and SEE.ERA Net plus, COST actions, programs funded by UNESCO), as well as bilateral meetings with the institutions from Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Austria, Italy, Greece and etc. In this moment, there are 14 active projects (six – applicative, three – national and five – international), obtained by the Horizont 2020 program, the SBT Action BM 1206 as well as through the bilateral projects with the Austrian Drug Screening Institute (ADSI), the University of Montenegro and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from Trieste, Italy.
Our high quality scientific and research work is realized in cooperation with institutions from abroad. In this sphere, international cooperation and the participation of bilateral, regional and other international projects always were an imperative for the faculty and teaching & research staff. By increasing the teaching & scientific potential, grouping adequate staff, and by raising the material and technical performances, the Faculty became an equal partner with the foreign institutions in the realization of mutual beneficial cooperation. This type of cooperation is still realized and active through study visits of teachers and co-workers, preparing of scientific and research projects, joint participation in scientific manifestations, preparation of publications, exchange of students and other forms.
The active and substantial presence in science is essential for qualitative professional and applicative activity, which is highly developed by the Faculty. However, big potential and capacity for further expansion and improvement exists. In this sense, the Faculty is active and present in the society through the work that is carried out in the research centers within the faculty. Finally, the Faculty of Pharmacy highly appreciates the work that is accomplished on requirement of the Macedonian Agency for medicines and medical devices, the Food and Veterinary Agency, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia, the Pharmaceutical Chamber of the Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian Pharmaceutical Society, as well as other commercial and other types of entities in the country.