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International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF)
IPSF was founded in 1949 by a group of pharmacy students in London. The Federation represents approximately 300,000 students from 43 different countries. The Federation is fostered by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), with whom links remain strong. The objective of IPSF is to study and promote the interests of pharmaceutical students and to encourage international co-operation among them. The IPSF has 4 official languages : English, French, German and Spanish.
There are many ways in which the Federation carries out its objectives: IPSF holds an annual Congress each year (usually in August), where about 250 pharmacy students from all over the world meet for educational symposia, workshops, lecture slots, IPSF business and various social and cultural events. the next IPSF Congress will be held in August from the 16th to 26th August 1997, in Vancouver, Canada. Perhaps the most exciting IPSF activity is the Student Exchange Program. The program allows a pharmacy student from one country to live and work in a pharmacy setting in another country for a period of up to three months during the whole year. There are more than 40 countries currently participating in this program. Another activity that is offered by the Federation is the International Patient Counseling Event. During counseling a patient the students should learn to use and increase his communication skills to ensure maximum benefit for the patient. This event takes place during the annual congress with more than 60 students usually participating.
IPSF has good contacts with then World Health Organisation (WHO), and through this IPSF is able to study the happenings in the international health care system. Contacts have been established with UNESCO, and IPSF together with the other IMISO partners are working on a Higher Education Project. IPSF is a Full Member of the Intersectorial Meeting of International Students Organisations (IMISO) and works in close co-operation with the other partners, AIESEC (business students), ELSA (law students), IAAS (agriculture students), and IFMSA (medical students) . Through IMISO about 6 million students in 90 countries can be reached. Nature and aimsNatureIPSF is a non-political, independent, non-profit making student run organisation.
StructureMembershipThere are four categories of membership :
The fees for Individual Membership to IPSF are: - 1 year membership = 40 Swiss Francs - 2 year membership = 70 Swiss Francs - 5 year membership = 150 Swiss Francs Only Full Members (FMís) have voting rights
Management
The IPSF is run by a six membered Executive Committee consisting of;
Various offices including a Translation Office, a membership promotion committee and a Reception Committee also aid the smooth running of the Federation. Sub-committees work on specific projects, with Continental, National and Local groups generally reflecting that of the International Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, Sub-Committees and Members carry out the activities of IPSF which are co-ordinated by the Executive Body. Elections of the International Executive Board are held at the General Assembly in August. ActivitiesKey Area Activities
The SE Program Pharmacy students have the unique opportunity to experience and learn about pharmacy on an international level, and at the same time broadening their own views and culture, as well as seeing a foreign country. This program is one of the most exciting aspects of IPSF. It enables students to live and work in a foreign country at a minimal cost. Participants have the chance to experience the way in which pharmacy is practiced in another place on a firsthand level. They are able to meet with pharmacy students from different places and exchange ideas and information. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED!!!!!!! Who may participate?
Countries which participate in the SE Program Simply click on the country you are interested in visiting as part of the Student Exchange Programme, and you will receive more information. The information is regularly updated. The documents are presented as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files. Your browser will have to be configured to either directly read pdf files or save them to disk for viewing with Acrobat Reader. How to participate? Contact the IPSF Student Exchange Officer in your country for more information or an application form. If you would like to become an invidual member of IPSF, the please contact the IPSF Secretariat for more information, and an application form. See last entry for all contact information! Pharmacy Continuing Education and supplementary trainingIPSF is involved in various activites asuch as arranging events to encourage patient orientated pharmacy by arranging training in, e.g. patient counseling. there is now an international patient counseling event held every year and national organisations are encouraged to do the same. Various workshops, congresses and symposia are held, some in conjunction with other organisations. One of the ongoing projects is the IPSF AIDS Awareness Campaign. IPSF is attempting to determine existing projects amongst pharmacy students inorder to provide countires which have no activity in this area with ideas. IPSF member countries participating in the second stage of the campaign are generally targeting primary school children. the whole idea is to have young people addressing the younger genration which in turn has a larger impact. Educational standards IPSF is involved with the Pharmacy 2000 Project. We have surveyed the pharmacy education and undergraduate curricula in member and non-member countries to determine differences in education around the world. This is an ongoing project focusing not only on education but also pre-registration training and the role of the pharmacist. A publication is available showing results of this survey. With the increase in flow of pharmacists and students from country to country, IPSF hopes to be involved in the determining of standards. The final phase of this project is going to be a survey into the fact whether our education prepares us for our profession as a pharmacist.
IPSF is currently working together with UNESCO and the other IMISO Partners on Ô The Social Role and the Employment of Graduates in the 21st Century Ô which links the 50th anniversary debate on Higher Education, the Student forum ( 1996 - 2001 ) and also the preparations for the proposed UNESCO World conference on Higher Education (1998). 43rd IPSF Congress in Vancouver, CanadaThe 43rd Annual Congress of IPSF will be held in Vancouver, Canada from 16th to 26th August 1997. It promises to be an extremely exciting Congress with relevant workshops, a Symposium on 'The Prescribing Authority of the Pharmacist', and a poster event titled 'Biotechnology and the Pharmacist'. The General Assembly and the USP Patient Counselling Event will also take place during the Congress. Of course there will also be a social programme organised including day trips and sightseeing so that delegates can get a feel for the city of Vancouver and its surroundings. Social events will include a traditional Native American evening, the infamous International Evening and the Development Fund Auction. About 200 delegates from 40 countries are expected, which will make this Congress a truly international gathering. For more information, please have a look at the conference web page or contact the Chairperson of the 1997 Reception Committee - Cory Proctor
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR IPSFPresident: Alison Sutherland (South Africa)Secretary General: Sally Arnison (Great Britain) Treasurer: Garwyn Morris (Great Britain) Chairperson of Information and Education: Peter Segbor (Ghana) Chairperson of Public Relations: Pierre Badenhorst (South Africa) Chairperson of Student Exchange: Inka Pulliainen (Finland) Co-opted member: Helena Ferreira (Portugal) Permanent contact address for IPSF and Executive:
If you would like more information about IPSF, please contact us at the address below, there is somebody waiting for your call! IPSF SecretariatAndries Bickerweg 5 2517 JP Den Haag The Netherlands Tel: +31 70 363 1925 Fax: +31 70 363 3914 E-mail:IPSF@fip.nl (Please Note: the subject line of the email message should be IPSF)
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