India’s First Pharmacy Skill Lab to Come Up at RGUHS Bheemanakuppe Research Centre
RGUHS, Pharmacy Council of India sign MoU to strengthen competency-based education, faculty development, research and innovation
Bengaluru, Sept. 9: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Karnataka, and the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish what they describe as India’s first Pharmacy Skill Lab at the RGUHS Bheemanakuppe Research Centre, marking a major push towards practical and competency-based pharmacy education.
The proposed facility will offer hands-on training for pharmacy students, teachers and professionals through simulation, practical exercises and competency assessments, helping learners translate classroom knowledge into real-world pharmacy practice.
Two Centres Planned
Under the collaboration, RGUHS will establish two major facilities: a Southern Zonal Centre for Faculty Development in Pharmacy Education and a Skill Lab for Advanced Pharmacy Education, Research and Innovation.
“The initiative is designed to strengthen professional preparedness by creating opportunities for practical learning, advanced skill development and competency assessment,” said Dr. Shivakumar Swamy, Dean of Pharmacy, RGUHS.
The centres will cover faculty development, continuing pharmacy education, curriculum and assessment, educational technology, research methodology and professional development. Artificial Intelligence in pharmacy education will also form part of the initiative.
AR/VR, Simulation and Advanced Research
The infrastructure will include simulated dispensing laboratories, AR/VR-enabled learning, advanced instrumentation, quality assurance and quality control training, and drug-testing and research facilities.
The collaboration also seeks to promote multicentric and student research, funded projects, innovation, intellectual property development and international partnerships.
“This partnership can create a strong platform for faculty capacity-building, educational research, innovation and continuous professional development,” Dr. Swamy said.
PCI will extend academic, policy and financial support, while RGUHS will provide infrastructure, laboratories, classrooms, administrative assistance and other institutional facilities.
A joint Governing Council, comprising representatives of PCI and RGUHS along with pharmacy education experts, will oversee the centres.
The initiative is expected to bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and practical competencies while strengthening the overall quality of pharmacy education and research in India.
