IPSF offers its members various opportunities to get involved in the Federation, which span everything from organising activities at a local level to an international level. If you are interested in getting involved please contact the member association of IPSF in your country or directly to ipsf@ipsf.org
Student Exchange Programme
The IPSF Student Exchange Programme (SEP) is a global programme criss-crossing students from all corners of the world in the name of an international pharmacy experience. Approximately 50 different countries participate in SEP, with upwards of 600 pharmacy students placed in exchanges annually. SEP runs throughout the year, with the majority exchanges taking place between May and September. The length of placements is usually from one to three months, and possible hosts include retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, wholesale companies, pharmaceutical industry, schools of pharmacy, government, and private health agencies. The application process is simple and convenient – you can apply online!
IPSF and Partner Organisations Internships
IPSF offers its member to participate in IPSF work at a higher level through an internship at the IPSF Headquarter, which is co-located at International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Headquarter in The Hague, Netherlands. As an intern you will see and participate actively in running the Federation, this is the best place where you can learn how this Federation function.
IPSF also offers the members chance to feel how it works internationally not inside the Federation but also with our partner organisations through internships. At the moment we provide internships in:
- Stop TB Partnership
- World Health Organizations (WHO)
- International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
Availability, criteria, job description, and length of placements varies for each internships.
Public Health
IPSF members are eligible to participate in all public health initiatives of IPSF, and receive support, advice, information and encouragement regarding their own public health interests, whilst increasing awareness of the pharmacist as a key player in public health. There are several main campaigns that IPSF encourages throughout the year. These include World Health Day, World No Tobacco Day , Healthy Living and Diabetes, HIV/AIDS awareness, and World TB day.
Pharmacy Practice
IPSF is dedicated to developing the profession and increasing public awareness and appreciation of the pharmacist as a vital member of the healthcare team. The Pharmacy Profession Awareness Campaign (PPAC) aims to increase general awareness of the pharmacy profession amongst other healthcare professionals and the public. The Patient Counselling Event (PCE) provide opportunities for pharmacy students worldwide to develop their skills and pharmacy education. IPSF provides material and resources to its members to organise these activities in their countries. These activities are also commonly organised at IPSF events.
Research Projects
IPSF is also committed to original research in the area of pharmacy education and professional satisfaction. The Moving On III research project studies the ‘Brain Drain’ phenomenon by surveying final year pharmacy students’ intention and aspirations to migrate. Thousands of questionnaires for more than 20 countries have been analysed to be published soon. New countries are welcome to join.
IPSF Events
One of the most simple ways to participate in IPSF is through attending IPSF events. It offers you education forums, scientific symposiums, poster exhibitions, workshops about IPSF activities, and of course the opportunity to socialise with peers from all over the world while becoming familiar with local culture. The IPSF Development Fund grants students from less developed countries opportunities to take part in these events by offering travel support.
IPSF Publications
You may get IPSF latest information to your e-mail by subscribing to IPSF News mailing-list. You can also send your article related to the world of pharmacy students, young pharmacists, and IPSF. The article should be free of any political or religious motivations. The length of the article should be 200-500 words in MS Word Document Format. Please include some photos in JPG/TIFF/Bitmap files. The article may be published in IPSF News Bulletin or IPSF Newsletter. Please send your article and photos to publications@ipsf.org
IPSF Positions
Each year eight IPSF-ers are elected at the IPSF Congress as IPSF Executive Committee. Members of various Sub-Committees, working on developing the Federation and supporting its activities, are appointed. The Regional Offices of IPSF have Regional Working Groups promoting IPSF at a regional level. Each member country elects or appoints an IPSF Contact Person and an IPSF Student Exchange Officer who represent their national or local organisation in IPSF. These indicated individuals work all year so that their peers may have the opportunity to expand their professional horizons. IPSF is always looking for hard working, dedicated students who would like enthusiastically fulfil these roles.