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.

During the meeting, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mowaffaq Al-Amoush, stressed the importance of cooperation opportunities in the areas of improving educational outcomes at the College of Pharmacy and that they are in line with the requirements of the labor market, especially with the conditions of the Corona pandemic, which affected practical training in scientific faculties.

 In turn, Dr. Faris Zahran, General Manager of the Electronic Library for Educational Services Company, reviewed the origin of the idea of ​​the institution and how it developed to keep pace with everything new in the field of pharmacy and medicine, and the importance of employing modern technology in the field of pharmaceutical education and how to use it in the most effective way.

 This agreement is considered the first of its kind between faculties of pharmacy in Jordanian public universities. The signing of the agreement was attended by the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, a number of faculty members in the college and officials in the company.

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.

The Faculty of Pharmacy at Yarmouk University participated in the Conference of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Jordan, which was held on the seventh and eighth of April of this year.

  The college was represented in the conference by the Dean of the College - Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, the Deputy Dean - Dr. Alaa Al-Jabali, the Head of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Sciences - Dr. Muhammad Obeid Ayasra, the Head of the Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Department - Dr. Yazan Al-Akkam, and from the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Practice Department, Dr. Rasha Arabyat. Each of them presented and discussed their latest research projects.

  A number of members of the academic staff at the college attended the conference, participating in its discussions, via the electronic communication technology (ZOOM).

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.

The President of Yarmouk University, Dr. Nabil Al-Heilat, inaugurated the activities of the symposium “The Development of the Pharmaceutical Sector and the Pharmaceutical Industry in the Kingdom”, which was organized by the College of Pharmacy as part of its celebrations of the centenary of the founding of the Jordanian state. The Director of the Jordanian Food and Drug administration, Dr. Nizar Al-Muhaidat in addition to Dr. Hanan Al-Seboul; the general secretary of the Jordanian Federation of Pharmaceutical Producers and Dr. Ahmed Al-Rasasi, representing the community pharmacies.

In a speech he delivered at the opening of the symposium, Al-Heilat said that Yarmouk University has come a long way thanks to the cumulative, effective, and continuous effort, and worked in a team spirit with management, faith, and institutionalism, as we realize that the university’s success in achieving its goals requires the combined efforts of all its academic and administrative cadres.

He expressed his happiness to host the participants in this symposium from the pharmaceutical sector and the pharmaceutical industry, especially since Al-Yarmouk University is keen to consolidate cooperation in the areas that contribute to the advancement of its academic programs and be a window from which our dear students overlook the reality of the labor market, which provides them with basic skills and principles that enlighten their future. Their practical future after their graduation, stressing the university's keenness to support the College of Pharmacy to be one of the leading national pillars in supplying the local and Arab labor market with qualified pharmaceutical cadres.

In her turn, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Mervat Al-Sous, said in her speech that human care is not complete without concerted efforts and strengthening and the integration of the responsibilities and duties of the health and pharmaceutical sectors, pointing out that Jordan is one of the leading countries in the field of pharmaceutical sciences at the academic level and at the level of the pharmaceutical industry, which is considered one of the leading countries in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. The most important local industries because of the accumulation of practical and scientific experiences of Jordan's pharmaceutical cadres, which are spread all over the world.

She added that Jordanian companies have taken the lead in spreading in the Gulf countries and the world thanks to the attractive environment for scientific research, experimentation and testing in the pharmaceutical sector, and they have had the lead in developing the local industry and its contribution to economic growth, noting that in light of the tremendous development of scientific and technological research methods, it has become an obligation for us in universities and in Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and research and development centers for networking with each other to integrate the circle of pharmaceutical knowledge. If scientific research and development is the basis of progress, then our universities should be the base for this research and an incubator for researchers, scientists, and innovators.

Al-Muhaidat spoke during the symposium about the development of the pharmaceutical regulatory sector in Jordan, reviewing that since the establishment of the Jordanian Food and Drug Administration in 2003, , it seeks to ensure the safety and quality of food, the safety and effectiveness of medicine and related materials through policies and legislation based on international standards and characterized by transparency and participation, pointing out that the institution is the only entity in Jordan concerned with drugs, as it is responsible for it from the beginning of its manufacture as a raw material and during all stages until obtaining it as a preparation ready for use by the patient, stressing that the main objective of the Directorate of Medicine is to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of the drug (whether manufactured locally or imported) and to provide it to the citizen at an appropriate price. By following up on pharmacological studies conducted on humans and monitoring them at all stages, in addition to following up the import and export of locally manufactured medicines, imported medicines, and slavery Executing and inspecting all pharmaceutical establishments, including pharmacies, warehouses, and pharmaceutical factories, monitoring narcotics, psychotropic substances and drugs raw materials, issuing the required licenses and permits, and following up on the rational use of medicines and the side effects of medicines.

Al Muhaidat also spoke about the history of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Arab world, and Jordan which established the Salt Pharmaceutical Factory in 1964, reviewing the pharmaceutical forms manufactured in Jordan, pointing out that the volume of Jordanian exports of medicines until the end of May of 2021 amounted to 205.2 million dinars, and that the size of the Jordanian drug market is estimated at 1.3 billion dollars, while the global market for medicines is estimated at more than 1.4 trillion dollars.

He said that Jordan spends more than 3% of its gross domestic product on medicines, but the pharmaceutical sector suffers from poor spending on research for developing its products, so the percentage of its expenditures on research does not exceed 2%.

Al-Sebool spoke during the symposium on the pharmaceutical industry in Jordan, pointing out that the pharmaceutical industry in Jordan is one of the important and vital sectors and constitutes a major supporter of the national economy, noting the strength of this sector, especially since Jordan is one of the countries in which the presence of any medicine has not stopped since the start of the Corona pandemic that affected all sectors in the world, especially the health sector, reviewing the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies and factories in Jordan during the pandemic, noting that despite the many obstacles faced by the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector during the previous stage, Jordan’s exports of medicines remained continuous and uninterrupted, praising the distinguished supervisory level of the Food and Drug administration in Jordan undertakes on the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in order to maintain and protect the quality of the Jordanian product, and to protect the Jordanian citizen alike.

For his part, Al-Rasasi spoke about the pharmaceutical practice and community pharmacy in Jordan, stressing the importance of the pharmacist’s role in completing the patient’s treatment process by dispensing the medication accurately and providing the correct information to the patient about how to use the drug, the recommended dosage and times of taking the drug, reviewing the factors behind the growing need to develop Pharmaceutical practices, especially with the spread of patients' use of drugs over the counter without physician’s prescriptions.