USM PENANG, 14 August 2025 – The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PPSF) at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) main campus hosted an official visit from the Council of Pharmacy Deans of Thailand (CPDT) and the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prince of Songkla University, this morning.

The visit aimed to strengthen regional academic ties and explore future directions in pharmaceutical education and research.

The PPSF management team and faculty members, led by the Dean, Associate Professor Dr. Nurzalina Abdul Karim Khan, warmly welcomed the delegation.

The visiting delegation was headed by Professor Dr. Pornsak Sriamornsak, President of CPDT and Dean of Silpakorn University, accompanied by senior Thai pharmacy faculty members, including Deans and Deputy Deans from various Thai universities.

Held at the PPSF Conference Room, the session highlighted several strategic challenges faced by PPSF, including the need to balance academic disciplines such as Social and Administrative Pharmacy with Clinical Pharmacy to ensure equitable visibility and impact.

Discussions also focused on the upcoming launch of the Master of Public Health in Pharmacy programme and the potential introduction of a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme—reflecting growing national expectations and the school’s commitment to meeting evolving healthcare demands.

Issues such as staffing continuity, reliance on voluntary contributions from retired academics, and the challenge of sustaining global rankings further underscore PPSF’s drive to innovate while preserving its legacy of excellence.

The session also served as a platform to explore potential collaborations in pharmacy education, research, and student mobility, as well as to discuss shared challenges and innovations among ASEAN institutions.

The visit concluded with a laboratory tour of PPSF’s facilities.

This meeting marks another milestone for PPSF USM as a hub of innovation, excellence, and international collaboration in pharmaceutical sciences.

For the record, the USM’s School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PPSF) is the first pharmacy school established in Malaysia.

Text: Nurhidayah Nayan, intern at MPRC, USM/ Photo: PPSF, USM