We continue our series of articles this autumn with the Heads of Pharmacy Schools. This month, we ask Dr Claire Lennon of South East Technological University and Dr Astrid Sasse of Trinity College Dublin, a series of questions.

South East Technological University (SETU)

Dr Claire Lennon, Head of Department of Pharmacy, South East Technological University

What inspired the establishment of SETU’s Department of Pharmacy, and can you share its vision and mission?

The establishment of SETU’s new Department of Pharmacy, within the Faculty of Science and Computing, and its five-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme, marks a historic step for the University and the Southeast region. It will create new opportunities for students, strengthen regional healthcare capabilities, and contribute to national and international professional pharmacy practice.

In 2022, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) initiated plans to build capacity and address the national need for increased educational opportunities in healthcare, including pharmacy. SETU’s programme development was successfully endorsed by the Irish government and has since undergone thorough and rigorous evaluation and assessment.

In developing the new Department of Pharmacy and MPharm, SETU has built on its existing partnerships and expertise in pharmaceutical science, biosciences, nursing and healthcare, pharmacy technician, and pharmacy dispensary assistant programmes. It is also underpinned by research and the development of programmes to meet sectoral needs. SETU has developed an academically and professionally robust MPharm programme that will provide the opportunity for pharmacy training in the Southeast, that will also have a national impact.

The Department’s vision is to deliver modern, innovative, and person-centred pharmacy training and education that ensures safe and effective pharmacy care for patients. This will be aligned with transformative and collaborative research that supports regional, national, and global healthcare needs.

There is a defined subject criterion for the MPharm curriculum, but are there other areas or topics that you plan to include to ensure your MPharm graduates are prepared for the evolving role of pharmacists?

The multi-disciplinary academic team at SETU, through extensive collaboration with stakeholders, has built a programme that ensures graduates will have the skills and professional competencies required to excel in this evolving and demanding profession.

The programme places emphasis on science, professional pharmacy practice, and clinical skills, along with interprofessional education, to ensure graduates will be patient-centred, competent and prepared to put their learning and professional training into practice in all settings. The MPharm will also include insight and innovation in relevant technologies, and the development of business and leadership skills.

SETU’s MPharm curriculum includes six integrated strands. These were developed through collaboration within our university, and importantly with academic and sectoral partners providing continuous feedback. Key to the delivery of the programme is a maintained, research-informed and future-focused approach, with ongoing sectoral feedback. Student learning will be anchored by strong training in research and evidence-based methods, ethics, and self-reflection. We will support students to become autonomous and reflective learners starting from first year. The MPharm programme will incorporate case-based learning and simulation to enhance clinical decision-making, problem solving, communication and teamwork.

The Department of Pharmacy at SETU is also developing innovative opportunities for interprofessional education through EU-CONEXUS, the transnational European university, of which SETU is a full partner. The Department is committed to supporting SETU’s national and global sustainability goals, with sustainability, health and greener practices embedded throughout the MPharm programme. The Department of Pharmacy will collaborate with SETU’s Departments of Veterinary Medicine, Land Sciences, and Science to embed a One Health approach across this new innovative programme.

What is the planned annual intake of students to your course?

Our planned annual intake is 40 students per year, with first intake of students in September 2026.

What type of social and extracurricular activities will be available to students?

At SETU, students are provided with a range of supports and services to help them integrate into student life and the wider university community. A tailored MPharm induction programme will give students the opportunity to engage with their colleagues, meet peer mentors who can provide support as they transition to college life, and meet SETU’s academic and support staff. SETU is dedicated to supporting students at all stages of their academic journey.

A key example of this is the University’s peer mentoring programme. With a strong spirit of volunteerism, the programme encourages students to get involved in the student community to support fellow students in navigating college life. The work of the programme contributes hugely to the inclusive atmosphere at SETU and provides dedicated supports, activities, and events for students throughout the academic year.

Our vibrant student societies allow learners to explore interests, develop skills, and build lasting connections. With over 80 sports clubs and societies, ranging from cultural and academic to creative and recreational, every student can find their community. Sport is also a core element of our culture, offering something for everyone — from recreational activity to elite performance — while supporting health, wellbeing, and personal growth.

Together, sport and societies create the inclusive, dynamic, and inspiring experience that defines life at SETU. Located in Carriganore, Waterford, SETU Arena is the southeast’s largest sports, fitness, and events centre. This state-of-the-art facility offers a comprehensive range of services for individuals, teams, and the wider community.

What mechanisms will SETU’s Department of Pharmacy use to engage with all sectors of pharmacy in the Southeast region; and what benefits do you hope to see from this engagement?

The team at SETU’s Department of Pharmacy places a significant emphasis on continued collaboration and consultation with regional, national, and international stakeholders. Building relationships with partners in the pharmacy, pharmaceutical, and related sectors, and the exchange of learnings and experience, has greatly informed our MPharm and will support future programme development.

Annual networking event: The departmental team will continue to develop and deepen partnerships within pharmacy education, hospital, community, and industry pharmacy sectors in the Southeast region. Our inaugural networking, education, and engagement event for pharmacists in the region took place in February 2025. The event hosted an enthusiastic and supportive group of attendees. A second event is already being planned for early 2026.

Voluntary and community partnership: Additionally, engagement with national and international voluntary and community organisations will positively shape our programme delivery over the coming years. Stakeholders focus groups, seminars, and the Department’s established Pharmacy Professional Advisory Committee, will continue to inform MPharm development.

Alongside professional, industrial, and sectoral partners, the Department will engage with public and patient advocacy groups to ensure SETU’s MPharm, and future programmes, remain impactful, relevant, and evidence-based. The aim of these collaborative efforts is to firmly place SETU as a supportive partner within the wider regional network, in which multiple groups work together.

How does SETU’s Department of Pharmacy plan to contribute to the longevity and sustainability of the pharmacy profession in Ireland?

SETU’s Department of Pharmacy is committed to providing sustainable pharmacy education and training in the Southeast long into the future, embedding leadership, adaptability, and advanced clinical skills into the MPharm curriculum. Continued outreach and collaboration with the pharmacy sector will ensure the professional employability of graduates who will be well-positioned to contribute to the pharmacy sector post-study.  This will also inform our future programmes, including both education and research.

Professional practice: A key element of the MPharm programme will be professional practice. Students will carry out multiple placements, beginning in second year of the programme. Through placement, students are continually honing their professional skills, reflecting on their professional practice, and building relationships across the pharmacy sector. Placement has been a key aspect for many years at SETU across our science, nursing and healthcare, and pharmacy technician programmes. This ensures graduates meet the competencies required in these areas.

The MPharm programme will instil a culture of continuous professional development and reflection in students through their professional portfolio experience. This is a vital component to a career in pharmacy, and one that SETU’s MPharm students will practice from the beginning of their training.

An expanded course portfolio: Additionally, SETU’s Department of Pharmacy is new and emerging with ambitions to expand its portfolio of courses beyond the MPharm. The Department plans to increase its educational and professional development offerings to the benefit of the wider pharmacy and pharmaceutical profession, regionally and nationally.

Pharmacy research: Another key aim of SETU’s Department of Pharmacy is to increase capacity for research activity. Research methods and projects are core elements of the MPharm curriculum from year one, with opportunities for students to disseminate their research. Academics active in research in centres such as the award winning Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC) and the Centre for Health Behaviour Research have been key members of our development team to ensure that research-led teaching is reflected in our curriculum. This will continue and reflects the collaborative educational environment at SETU.

The Department will foster interdisciplinary research collaboration with other SETU departments in the wider area of science, healthcare, and veterinary medicine. The development of our Departments of Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine offer opportunities for collaboration in research and education in One Health, also embedded in our MPharm programme.

Promoting health and wellbeing: The Department recognises that healthcare is rapidly evolving, with a growing emphasis on empowering individuals to take greater control of their own health. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in promoting self-care, wellbeing and resilience, not only for patients but for themselves. The WHO Self-care Competency Framework and the FIP Guide for Pharmacists Supporting Self-care, are integrated into our programme. By encouraging students to prioritise their own wellbeing and that of their patients, we aim to support the longevity and sustainability of the profession. As part of our second annual Pharmacy Networking and Educational event in early 2026, we will host a dedicated workshop for pharmacists to incorporate wellness practices into their daily lives, supporting their own heath, emotional wellbeing, and resilience.

In what ways will SETU’s Department of Pharmacy collaborate with the HSE, IPU, PSI, IIOP and other stakeholders to enhance pharmacy education and practice?

The team has engaged with the PSI through the development and accreditation processes of the MPharm programme. SETU’s Department of Pharmacy will continue to foster collaborative opportunities, with the IPU, PIER, HPAI and IIOP. The Department is building strong ties to community and hospital pharmacy in the southeast region. SETU is also expanding its existing national and international relationships in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical science to include activity that will enhance the MPharm programme and Department of Pharmacy. This is made possible through the University’s history in education, research and sectoral engagement in pharmaceutical science, nursing and healthcare, and pharmacy technician education. We also look forward to building further strong relationships with Schools of Pharmacy, nationally and internationally to collectively and collaboratively enhance pharmacy education and practice. We will continue to build on existing partnerships through our work in the Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC), the Taighde Éireann — Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals.

Any interesting vignettes on the impact of SETU’s Department of Pharmacy on the health and wellbeing of the local region?

SETU’s MPharm programme development has involved academics who are leading innovative and impactful research. As part of the PMBRC, the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group (ORTG) have identified key barriers to participation in scientific and pharmaceutical research and education for those living with dry eye disease or vision impairment and helped inform the development of new tools and training to involve these communities in shaping research and educational priorities from the ground up. More than 700 people from the Southeast and beyond have already participated in co-design or engagement activities, many of whom are now embedded as public and patient involvement (PPIE) contributors supporting research and education across pharmacy, nursing, and life sciences.

This work led to the development of the first-ever MSCA COFUND to be coordinated by a technological university in Ireland. INNOVISION, a €3.1 million Horizon Europe co-funded programme coordinated by SETU, embeds public and patient involvement (PPIE) into all postdoctoral projects. This helps to ensure science is designed not just for the public, but with them. These initiatives are creating new access points to science for individuals who are often excluded from research conversations, including older adults, people with disabilities, and rural communities. Together, they demonstrate SETU’s commitment to health, inclusion, and societal impact, helping ensure that the Department of Pharmacy will grow in step with the needs of the Southeast.

Further information on SETU’s Master of Pharmacy Programme is available at setu.ie/SE525.

Trinity College Dublin

Dr Astrid Sasse, Head of School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin

What inspired the establishment of this School of Pharmacy, and can you share the vision and mission of your School of Pharmacy?

Almost fifty years ago, under the stewardship of Provost Francis Stewart Leland Lyons and the academic leadership and vision of Professor Richard F. Timoney, Ireland’s first School of Pharmacy was incorporated into Trinity College Dublin. Bringing together four departments — Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, and Pharmaceutics — within the Faculty of Science, the original vision of creating and nurturing collaborative and impactful research and teaching continues to underpin and inspire the work of our School. In 2005 the School transferred into the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Whilst the School expertise and academic composition has changed markedly over the past decades in response to external changes such as the evolution of medicines to advanced therapeutics, the evolving role of pharmacists in the safe and effective use of medicines and the integration of personalised information and pharmacy informatics into the care process, our vision, and our overall purpose as a School remains constant.

Our Purpose: We educate and train pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists; we exercise leadership in the development and advancement of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, through world class teaching, research and engagement to impact policy and healthcare nationally and internationally.

Our Values: Excellence, Equity, Advocacy, Ethics, Diversity.

The School’s standing is reflected in the quality of our graduates, the calibre of our course applicants, and in international rankings. Trinity is ranked at 34^th in the world for the subject Pharmacy and Pharmacology in the QS Rankings (2025), an achievement which the School strives to maintain and advance.

There are defined subject criteria for the MPharm curriculum, but are there other areas or topics that you have included, to ensure your MPharm graduates are prepared for the evolving role of pharmacists?

Our curriculum is mapped to the PSI’s indicative syllabus and relevant Irish and European legal requirements for pharmacy education. We place particular emphasis on a scientific academic education, as well as communication and clinical skills teaching throughout our programme. In addition to the core curriculum, we place specific emphasis on topics such as leadership, vaccinations, medicines optimisation and pharmacogenomics, reflecting the future role of pharmacists in prescribing, personalised and preventative practice.

There is also a strong emphasis on industrial pharmacy throughout the curriculum, and in particular in the 5^th year, where there is a dedicated industrial pharmacy module.

We have an elaborate inter-professional learning curriculum embedded throughout our programme to ensure our graduates will be key members of multi-disciplinary teams and understand the intricacies of working within these.

We have a very strong Erasmus programme, which ensures students have the opportunity to carry out research abroad with an internationally recognised research group within Europe and beyond (for example, Japan, Australia, United States, etc). Students gain valuable experience in research, and also insights into international pharmacy practice.

What is the annual intake of students to your course

Approximately 85 students into our first year, where most are regular CAO entries with some places available for non-EU, Mature and Graduate Entry applicants.

What type of social and extracurricular activities are available to students?

Within the Trinity College, students have access to over 120 student societies (for example, debating, drama, sports), which they can join to match their interests and hobbies. Students can also join any TCD sports club, which caters for a wide range of sporting interests (for example, rugby, rowing, fencing).

Within the School, students run a society, the Dublin University Pharmaceutical Students Association (DUPSA), which organises several student events throughout the academic year, including a pharmacy ball, table quizzes and sports outings.

Students also have access to the Students’ Union, which supports students’ social and cultural development, organises an annual Trinity Ball and provides additional support services for students in need.

What mechanisms does the School of Pharmacy use to engage with all sectors of pharmacy in your region, and what benefits have you seen from this engagement?

Our School engages with all sectors of pharmacy through the Affiliation for Pharmacy Practice Experiential Learning (APPEL). APPEL organises the experiential learning placements for pharmacy students from all Schools of Pharmacy in Ireland, exposing students to real-world pharmacy practice in patient-facing, industrial pharmacy and role emerging settings throughout our programme, and helping students develop essential professional skills. APPEL engages with placement providers on behalf of the Schools, providing a single interface for students and placement providers to connect. The ongoing support of colleagues in all fields of pharmacy practice is essential to engage and expose pharmacy students to the profession, allowing them to understand the breadth of roles pharmacists play and to develop a clear understanding of their professional responsibilities.

How does the School of Pharmacy contribute to the longevity and sustainability of the pharmacy profession in Ireland?

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Trinity College Dublin plays a vital role in advancing the longevity and sustainability of the pharmacy profession in Ireland. We are renowned for our education and training excellence, which is research informed, integrative and inter-professional. Our programme ensures students are prepared to be life-long learners, agile and adaptable to societal and professional need and healthcare landscape policy changes.

In what ways does the School of Pharmacy collaborate with the HSE, IPU, PSI, IIOP and other stakeholders to enhance pharmacy education and practice?

We have existing memoranda of understanding with several hospitals in our region and engage with senior hospital staff from these hospitals who teach on our programme and provide strategic input into the overall clinical content of the programme. A Chief Pharmacist from one of these hospitals is a member of our Strategic Advisory Board. The IPU support some teaching in the programme. We engage with the PSI through the accreditation process. Several members of staff have provided input to IIOP webinars and in the assessment of CPD for the IIOP.

Our School also engages significantly with patient advocacy groups, industrial partners, relevant charities and research institutes. Collaborative working with these stakeholders ensures our MPharm programme is relevant, underpinned by science, informed by patients’ needs and key developments within the profession.

Further information on TCD’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is available at tcd.ie/pharmacy.

This article is part of a series running in autumn 2025 on the six Irish Schools of Pharmacy. The September IPU Review included interviews with Prof. Leo Quinlan of University of Galway, and Prof. Helena Kelly of RCSI, and is available at ipu.ie/ipu-review > Previous Articles.