The 2025 International Conference of the Faculty of Pharmacy was held today at the University of Jordan, under the title "Shaping the Future of Pharmacy: Enabling Education, Training, Innovation, and Integrating Artificial Intelligence," with broad participation from scientists, experts, and academics from various local and international universities and pharmaceutical sector institutions.
This year's conference highlights the future of the pharmacy profession and how innovation, continuous training, and modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, can transform this vital sector and open new horizons of excellence, influence, and positive change in the healthcare sector for students and professionals.
During his opening remarks at the conference, attended by the university's vice presidents, faculty and staff, and students, University President Dr. Nazir Obeidat said that the ongoing digital revolution in the fields of artificial intelligence, data analysis, the Internet of Things, and quantum computing represents a unique opportunity to transform the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
He emphasized that universities must be at the heart of the scene, by developing curricula, supporting researchers, and reformulating scientific research questions to be more closely aligned with patient needs and more focused on the realistic challenges of drug discovery, with the need to invest in designing accurate algorithms and predictive models that contribute to accurately identifying therapeutic targets and verifying them efficiently.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the College and Chair of the Conference, Dr. Rula Darwish, explained that the conference comes at a critical time, as the health sector is facing unprecedented challenges that require a reconsideration of teaching methods and practice approaches, and a renewal of pharmaceutical thought in line with the requirements of the next phase. She noted that the conference title reflects the College's commitment as a pioneer and believer in sustainable development.
Darwish pointed to a number of achievements that the college is proud of and has accomplished over the past years, including: being ranked among the top 100 pharmacy colleges worldwide according to the QS rankings, launching the Employment Readiness Program for the first time as part of its academic plans, and expanding its research partnerships with local and international institutions, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and the establishment of a PhD program in clinical pharmacy and a laboratory, the first of its kind locally, concerned with intravenous solutions. She noted that she is close to equipping an integrated computer laboratory dedicated to postgraduate studies.
The conference agenda included a series of qualitative scientific lectures that addressed topics related to pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical product chemistry, pharmacology, industrial pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, and drug economics, as well as specialized workshops that combined visual communication technologies and direct attendance, designed to keep pace with the rapid developments in the profession. Reflecting the practical nature of the conference, it discusses topics such as: data analysis, the application of artificial intelligence in the practice of pharmacy, practical tools in higher education, career paths in business and consulting, and other topics.
In support of student initiatives that have become an integral part of its mission, the College of Pharmacy announced, within the conference activities, the launch of the first student competition, and its hosting of (21) teams from various colleges of pharmacy across the Kingdom, distributed among (teams for the Doctor of Pharmacy competition, and (13) teams for the Pharmacy competition, with a total of (84) male and female students, It has become an annual tradition that reinforces the institutional identity and highlights student creativity. The 3-Minute Thesis Competition, targeting graduate students in colleges of pharmacy nationwide, was also launched after its success and distinction during the college's Honorary Professors Program, which was praised by those who attended.
On the sidelines of the conference, An exhibition in which major companies, warehouses, and factories specialized in the pharmaceutical industry participated to display their medical and pharmaceutical products and services, and another exhibition was full of scientific posters that explained in a simplified manner research projects of students in the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. And postgraduate studies from various colleges of pharmacy spread across Jordanian universities.