As part of the Faculty of Pharmacy’s endeavor to find new opportunities for training its students in community pharmacies and  identify the most important challenges facing this matter from the perspective of pharmacy owners, the Faculty of Pharmacy, represented by the Dean, Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, held its first meeting with a number of representatives of community pharmacies in Irbid (Misk and Leen pharmacy, Aktham pharmacy, Al-Ajlouni pharmacy, Bab Al-Hamd pharmacy, Berr Al-Walidain pharmacy, Reza Al-Walidain pharmacy, Al-Hamidoun pharmacy, Arzak Qamim pharmacy, Al-Qasila pharmacy, Laura pharmacy, pharmacy Al-Hamra Palace). during the meeting the pharmacists' field training program and the required forms were clarified as well as explained the role of the responsible pharmacist in guiding and following-up students during training.

The Faculty of Pharmacy has thanked the efforts of the representative of the Pharmacists Syndicate in Irbid, Dr. Mahdi Al-Ajlouni, for his efforts in arranging this meeting and facilitating the process, in addition to the representatives of pharmacies themselves.

A meeting was held in the Faculty of Pharmacy between the administration of the college and the academic and administrative staff on Tuesday 5-10-2021 in the Faculty of Pharmacy seminar hall. Where the colleagues were welcomed at the beginning of the new school year. At the meeting, a number of the teaching and administrative staff were honored for their service to the college and university, especially with regard to preparing for the American Accreditation Certificate (ACPE), and during the period of the Corona pandemic. The Dean Dr. Mervat Al-Sous reviewed the strategic plan, what has been accomplished, and the future plans of the faculty. The meeting was attended by the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, the administration of the Faculty, and members of the academic and administrative body of the Faculty.

Within the extracurricular activities and student initiatives inside the university campus, the first activity was held at the Faculty of Pharmacy on the occasion of the Prophet’s birthday on Wednesday, 10/20/2021.

The event was inaugurated by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Thiabat, and the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, with a student initiative and audience during which dates and sweets were presented to commemorate this blessed religious occasion.

The Faculty of Pharmacy concluded the training and professional preparation program. The program consisted of three lectures and interactive sessions targeting the students of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Yarmouk University.

 In the first lecture, which was presented by the pharmacist Dr. Firas Al-Tarifi, Director of Strategic Business Development and Director of Central Bidding at Al- Takadum Pharmaceutical Industries, the various fields of pharmaceutical work available locally, regionally and globally were discussed.

 In the second lecture, which was presented by Mr. Ghassan Salameh, Director of Human Resources at Al-Takadum Pharmaceutical Industries, the correct way to prepare a CV, conduct job interviews and employment was discussed.

 As for the third lecture, which was presented by Dr. Ahmed Al-Rasasi, it included the requirements and procedures for equivalence of the pharmacy certificate in Canada.

 At the end of the lecture, each lecturer answered the questions and inquiries of the audience. The lectures were attended by a number of students of the College of Pharmacy and Yarmouk University and a number of members of the faculty and administrative staff of the college.

The Faculty of Pharmacy at Yarmouk University hosted Dr. Pharmacist Firas Al-Tarifi, Director of Strategic Business Development and Director of Central Bidding at Al-Qadam Pharmaceutical Industries.

 During the lecture, Dr. Al-Tarifi provided an insight on the fields of pharmaceutical work in Jordan and the region, and the advantages, opportunities and challenges facing each field. Dr. Al-Tarifi also noted the importance of linking theoretical knowledge with the practical field and preparing good pharmacy students and graduates to enable them to advance the pharmaceutical profession locally and globally. Dr. Al-Tarifi stressed the need to seek early work to find job opportunities for students and graduates of the College of Pharmacy, to define a clear career path.

At the end of the lecture, Dr. Al-Tarifi answered the questions and inquiries of the audience. The lecture was attended by a number of Faculty of Pharmacy students and faculty members.

As a part of the new year preparations, the college of Pharmacy held the first meeting of the college council on 18^th Oct 2021 in the presence of the Dean of the college Dr. Mervet Alsous and the Administrative staff, the Vice Dean, Department Heads and Assistant Dean were the next stage preparations were identified. Also, the readiness of the university campus, the college halls and laboratories were discussed especially with the return of students to the university, and a number of academic departments related issues were discussed. As a conclusion, the council stressed the need to pay special attention to public safety and the commitment of all defense ordered being forced at the present time.  

On behalf of the President of Yarmouk University, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, sponsored the opening of the activities of the "Distance Education in Pharmacy - Opportunities and Challenges" symposium, organized by the faculty in cooperation with members of the Arab American Association of Academic Pharmacists.

 Al-Sous referred to the efforts made by the university administration and its various faculties to be able to shift from face-to-face education to distance education in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the whole world and made it imperative for the higher education sector to deal with this emergency situation in a correct manner so that the quality of education and information received by students are not affected. She commended the efforts made by the faculty members in the college who kept pace with the various technological developments in the field of distance education to be able to give the various courses offered by the college and to deliver the information in the correct form to ensure that students absorb it and benefit from it.

 Al-Sous stressed the importance of cooperating with the American Society of Academic Pharmacists and exchanging experiences with them, which will reflect positively on the progress of the educational and research process in the college. To reach a qualified graduate in various fields of pharmaceutical work and to achieve distinguished pharmaceutical care that takes into account the comprehensive quality.

 For his part, the main speaker in the symposium, Dr. Nasser Al-Sharif from Creighton University, USA, referred to the best methods of distance education. At the beginning of his speech, he reviewed the objectives of the Arab American Association of Academic Pharmacists, and its tasks, which include introducing the basic steps before, during and after the design of electronic courses "distance", And identify the sources that can be used.

 Al-Sharif said, “Has distance education become an option or is it mandatory for all of us to be familiar with it and to be fully aware of how to deal with it?” stressing the importance of the teacher reflecting the personality that students see in the classroom during electronic courses as well, and that mutual respect between teachers and students is The basis of dealing, explaining that e-learning "distance" includes cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, and cultural skills.

 He explained the steps that the lecturer must follow to design distance-taught courses, which must include and reinforce with pictures, videos, and audio recordings that make education easier and more enjoyable and enable students to receive information better. He also reviewed the most prominent distance education theories, and how to prepare study plans for courses. Which are taught remotely, the methods of distance education, and the technological knowledge that the teacher and student must be familiar with.

 He stressed the need for the availability of modern technological equipment and fast internet connection, which is a basis for the success and benefit of the distance education process.

 The symposium included a number of lectures entitled "Distance Pharmaceutical Training - Benefit and Applicability" by Dr. Hanin El-Amawi from the university, "BINGO, the use of educational games to stimulate engagement in distance education" by Dr. Ola Ghoneim from Western New England University in America, and "Education Remotely in pharmaceutical laboratories” by Dr. Rasha Bachattowa from the university.

 At the end of the symposium, which was attended by a number of faculty members at the faculty and members of the Arab American Association of Academic Pharmacists, a discussion took place among the participants about distance education in the pharmaceutical field, ways to develop it, and the challenges it faces.

A memorandum of understanding was signed at Yarmouk University with the Food and Drug Corporation in the field of exchanging scientific experiences, training students of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the university, and conducting joint scientific research. The memorandum aims to consolidate cooperation and partnership, and enhance the exchange of experiences in the academic and professional fields between the two sides, as it was signed on behalf of the university. Its president, Dr. Nabil Al-Hailat, and the Foundation's general manager, Dr. Nizar Mhaidat.

 During the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding, Al-Hailat praised the important and pivotal role played by the Food and Drug Corporation in verifying the safety and quality of food and its safety for human consumption and the effectiveness of medicine and related materials, pointing to the keenness of Yarmouk University to develop partnerships that would raise the educational level it provides and raise the level and competencies its educational outcomes.

 He added that Yarmouk University seeks to excel and embody the spirit of leadership and creativity in the quality of education, originality of scientific research and community service, and to prepare qualified and trained graduates that meet the requirements and needs of the labor market, and is keen to stimulate pioneering talents and creative ideas among students and launch them by providing the appropriate environment to stimulate their latent energies Providing training opportunities in cooperation with various national institutions, which contributes to preparing them and arming them with the necessary skills to engage in the labor market and embody the knowledge and sciences they have received in order to serve and develop public sector institutions in a way that advances the wheel of development and reform in all fields.

 In turn, Al-Mahidat praised the scientific reputation that Yarmouk University enjoys in various scientific and academic fields, stressing the readiness of the Food and Drug Corporation to cooperate in all areas of common interest, which contributes to preparing and qualifying the students of the College of Pharmacy at the required level, and integrating the academic and scientific side with the practical in conducting applied research within The scope of the institution’s work in a way that contributes to the development of the services provided by the institution to the local community.

 The memorandum of understanding stipulates that the Foundation will train a number of students of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the university and introduce them to the various fields of work of the institution, its departments, food and drug directorates and laboratories, how to control food establishments, local and imported foodstuffs, control over pharmacies and pharmaceutical factories, and learn about pharmaceutical manufacturing practices. Good, in addition to controlling medical devices, supplies and cosmetics, and the mechanisms of control and regulatory work on tobacco and its products, including electronic cigarettes.