Manipal, 6^th February 2023: Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), a constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, is organising a one-day curriculum conclave, themed “Beyond curriculum…”. The conclave will be held on 10^th February 2023, and it is a part of the year-long Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of MCOPS. The aegis of the Industry Institute Partnership Cell of MCOPS is proactively working towards the big victory to make the day even more special.

Over the years, MCOPS has been at the forefront of adapting to changing times. At present MCOPS offers 11 specializations at the Masters’ level and have an equal number of Centers in the college that provide services to industry, academia, and the community, which shows that MCOPS believes in a holistic approach to teaching and learning providing ample opportunities for growth.

The conclave will deliberate on issues of current and future importance for pharmacy graduates. The interaction with faculty, research scholars, and students will help them learn about recent trends in various domains of the pharmaceutical sector. The daylong event will witness panel discussions with more than 10 Industry captains, representing different technical competencies, from across the country. The panel discussion will be followed by interaction with PG students, a visit to research facilities at MCOPS, and deliberations on changes in the curriculum that will help students in seeking the right career options and opportunities. The conclave also aims to establish industry linkages for research, internship, and placement opportunities for graduates, in addition to seeking inputs for curricular changes.

Highlighting the need for the conclave, Dr. C Mallikarjuna Rao, Principal, MCOPS said “The changing dynamics of the pharmaceutical industry, coupled with the latest knowledge and skills to address the challenges require a skilled workforce. The students graduating from the portals should possess sufficient knowledge about pharmaceutical sciences and require a few skill sets. In addition to technical skills, soft skills are equally important to grow in the industry. The conclave will highlight these aspects of upskilling to remain competitive. Academia shall understand industry requirements and skills required so that it can train their graduates to bridge this gap”.

He further concluded by stating that “curriculum conclave should be held periodically by academic institutions involving industry representatives that go with the Motto of MCOPS “Marching with Times”.