The key process that will clinch your involvement in all IPSF events and activities is becoming an IPSF Member! The process is amazingly quick, easy, and will lead you down the path to being a motivated, enthusiastic, contributing member of your profession!
After your first encounter with IPSF as a pharmacy student or a graduate within your first 4 years of graduation you will probably have to do some steps before taking the decision to have your association a part of IPSF or applying for IPSF as an Individual Member yourself.
Those steps will help you know more about IPSF get acquainted with the required information to be a strong and solid future member whose participation will ensure effective and sustainable progression of IPSF objectives, goals and projects.
  • Visit IPSF website. ( www.ipsf.org ) The website is the IPSF portal to all pharmacy students from all over the world. Through the website students can access different type of information about IPSF, which areas IPSF works in , what are previous and present IPSF projects this as well as contact information for all IPSF executives and projects leaders.
  • After visiting the website you would have gained n overall idea of the federation how it works and function in different parts of the world. Do you have questions? Send all your inquiries to pr@ipsf.org. The chairperson of Public Relations is responsible for the promotion of IPSF membership to non member countries so you will find contacting him of a great help.
  • After having your questions answered, probably you will have more interest in IPSF and would like to know more so download the “Non Members Hand Book”- NMHB from the website. This is a hand book including a summary about IPSF. It is updated annually so this will ensure that you have access to the most up to date information about the federation.
  •  Now after reading and digesting the NMHB if you want to extend your interest and passion about IPSF to the rest of your association executives and members do not hesitate to send an email to pr@ipsf.org asking for a promotional kit. To ensure smooth and direct delivery of the kit on time please, provide IPSF with the exact mailing / postal address that you always provide to receive post and mail from your university, relatives abroad, etc…
  • The promotional kit includes the following material :
    1. IPSF Publications: News Bulletin, Annual Report and Phuture.
    2. IPSF promotional posters
    3. Non Members Hand Book. ” Translated versions available”
    4. IPSF News Letter- last 3 issues.
    5. CD – Including IPSF promotional presentation.” Translated versions available”
    6. Please indicate in your email your estimated number of copies needed. Please, note that all the aforementioned items are subject to availability in the IPSF office. Please, also note that it might need approximately 20 days for the kit to be delivered, it depends upon your country’s geographical location and proximity from Europe “Kits are mailed from IPSF office which is located in The Hague, The Netherlands”.
    7. You can use the materials provided in the kit to initiate interest between students at your school or between the executives of your association, you can also use the presentation during your annual congress, meeting or gathering that your association organizes. This Kit aims to promote IPSF to your student organisation.
So now you take the decision to make yourself and your association part of the IPSF growing family, IPSF offers four kinds of membership, each given its own unique consideration: Full Membership (FM), Member in Association (MiA), Individual Membership (IM) and Friends of the Federation (FoF). The IPSF executive committee can grant IM and FoF Memberships at any time throughout the year after the application has been considered, whereas FM and MiA is granted by the General Assembly (GA) at the annual congress.
 
How to become a Full Member (FM) / Member in Association (MiA) of IPSF
A very easy 9 steps process:
1. Find out if your country is recognized as an independent nation by the United Nations Organization (for FM only). You can check the United Nations website www.un.org
Note: If you are part of a local club, group or association in your pharmacy school campus and find that your aims and objectives comply with IPSF aims and objectives also find in yourself the professionalism, enthusiasm, planning and sustainability to go on an international level then you are welcomed to apply for membership in IPSF as a Member in Association (MiA). Follow the next steps and neglect the notes about requirements of associations applying for Full Membership (FM)
2. Visit www.ipsf.org and download the application form or make a request for the application from ipsf@ipsf.org or pr@ipsf.org
3. Complete the application form and have it signed by the president and two other executives of the organization.
 Note: The application form should be hand signed, if you are going to send it by email then after signing the application scan it and then send it by email to ipsf@ipsf.org and pr@ipsf.org
4. Attach to your application a copy of your associations’ constitution/statutes or by laws.
Note: IPSF recognizes Arabic, English French and Spanish as its official languages. Submitting your constitution to IPSF for a membership application should be done in any of the aforementioned languages. If your constitution /statutes or by laws is in any other language please attach a translated version in any of IPSF official languages of your choice “preferably English”
Note: Associations applying for Full Membership (FM)should be the main representative of the majority of pharmacy students in their respective countries, we suppose that the association which represent the majority of students from one country should  have relations with the country’s National Pharmacy board ( i.e. Pharmacy syndicate, pharmaceutical association or pharmaceutical society ) this to ensure continuity of the association and the national support for IPSF projects implemented in their country . They also need to provide an official (i.e. signed and stamped) letter of recommendation from their resepective national pharmacy board on the board’s letter head stating the following : “ We hereby recommends the ( name of the association ) applying for Full Membership in the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation , we would like to inform the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation that we recognize the ( name of the association ) as the main body representing pharmacy students in ( name of the country )”
5. Submit the application two months before the next General Assembly. The General Assembly  ( GA ) is the supreme decision making body of IPSF , all decisions regarding IPSF policies ,projects  are being made and taken during the General Assembly which takes place during the occasion of the annual IPSF world congress for pharmacy students. The General Assembly is composed of representatives of IPSF member countries who vote, discuss and affects IPSF future directions.
Note: Submitting your application form on time and abiding to the deadline ensures that your associations’ application will be accepted for admission in the upcoming General Assembly. Delays in sending the application form and other required documents may result in your application be postponed for admission to next year’s General Assembly which is not a favorable decision.
6. Payment of the 1st annual membership fee before the start of the general assembly is crucial for the admission of your file during the GA. You can pay the fees until 12 hours before the General assembly commences. Regarding how is the fee calculated and methods of payment contact treasurer@ipsf.org
 
7. Prepare a five minute presentation about your organization and its activities. Be sure to make it interesting and focus on both what your organization will gain and give to IPSF! Include photos and videos if possible!
Note: Presentations have to be done in English language – Working Language of IPSF and the congress.
8. Attend the GA and make your presentation.
Note: IPSF understands that not all students from all countries can fund themselves to attend the General Assembly during the IPSF congress due to the expenses of registration fees and flight tickets. In accordance IPSF provides financial support for students from developing countries and students who prove their financial need and inability to attend the congress through the Development Fund Grant- DF Grant. Due to the fact that the grant has a deadline for submitting applications which is usually February or March of each year in which by this time not all associations would have taken decision to apply for membership and also because the grant is limited to 2or 3 participants each year due to IPSF ‘s limited resources “ as a non profit organization “ IPSF allows countries / associations applying for membership in IPSF to nominate a representative who confirmed to attend the congress – IPSF chairperson of Public Relations can do the presentation on behalf of associations not attending the congress due to financial or visa problems .  
N. B: For more information regarding the Development Fund grant please visit the website www.ipsf.org or send an email to df@ipsf.org or to treasurer@ipsf.org
9. Wait for approval (10-15 min.) Voting takes place during the GA through secret ballots and then the result is announced. Upon acceptance of the membership the official delegate of the association granted membership –if present- should join the General assembly and have a voting card “in case of Full Membership”
Note: Congratulations!! Now your association is an official member of IPSF./div>
em>Note : In case you do not have an association in your school and do not know if you have a national association in your country please, contact the chairperson of Public Relations as your country might be a member in IPSF and you do not know. Also in case your country was not a member and you want to initiate a National association or a local one at your school campus and need help or guidance, contact the chairperson of Public Relations as we will guide you stepwise until your association is established and you become successfully members in IPSF . Guidance includes:
  • Official support letter from IPSF to your school administration or to your national pharmacy board.
  • em>Promotional materials
  • em>Proposed organizational structure/em>
  • Templates for constitutions/statutes and by laws
  • Ideas for fundraising and support letters for potential sponsors.
  • Promotional visit by a representative from IPSF to your association to meet with the people at your school , national pharmacy board or the students and introduce IPSF and the idea of establishing an association to them . However this is depending upon financial availability for the IPSF representative.
  
So what are your duties towards IPSF and what are the privileges that you will gain from Joining IPSF:
•      Privileges
1.       Participation in the student Exchange Program ( SEP )
2.       Participation in development fund (DF )
3.       Receive IPSF publications: News Bulletin, Annual Report and Phuture.
4.       Receive materials for Organizing IPSF campaigns and projects.
5.       Participation in international research projects. I.e. Moving On research projects.
6.       Receive “call for applications” for internships in IPSF headquarters in The Hague, The Netherlands.
7.       Receive “call for applications” for internships in WHO-World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and other IPSF partner organisations.
8.       Receive invitation to the IPSF world congress of pharmacy students. Receive invitation to participate in many national and international events among other fellow pharmacy and health sciences
9.       Full Members have the right to vote during the General Assembly as well as the right to run a motion. A motion in IPSF language is an intervention during or before the General assembly with the aim of introducing, amending or canceling articles in IPSF constitution, project or idea.
  • Duties
    1. Appoint a CP. Contact Person, this person will be your association ambassador to IPSF he is the link between IPSF and your association. All communication and correspondence between IPSF and its member associations are being done through the CP.
    2.  Work in IPSF framework. This means to endorse IPSF projects and methodology in implementation of national projects.
    3. Pay annual fee. IPSF is a non profit organization with a budget depending mainly on the membership fees paid annually by its members. Paying annual fee on time upon receiving the payment invoice from IPSF treasurer ensures smooth running of the federation and its activities. Some developing countries which is already member in IPSF(paid 1st membership fee ) and facing financial obstacles hindering them from paying the annual fee can apply for the DF grant to request paying their membership fee though the grant .Failing to pay the annual membership fee to IPSF for 2 continuous years results in the association being in arrears in the first year losing some membership privileges and complete losing of membership after the second year .
    4. Provide information of your organization to IPSF. Through continuous Participation in the discussions on the Contact Persons group and through submitting your associations’ annual report for the congress folder.
 
How to become an Individual Member (IM)/Friend of the Federation (FoF)
1. Visit www.ipsf.org and download the application form or make a request for the application form at ipsf@ipsf.org
2. Complete the application form and send it to the IPSF secretariat
3. Wait on evaluation (1-2 days)
4. Payment of fees.
(Only students who are not part of an IPSF member organization and graduates within four years of graduation from their 1st degree in pharmacy are eligible to become an IM, however any individual who wishes to support and advance the aims of the Federation both morally and financially, may become an IPSF Friend of the Federation ).
IPSF is currently celebrating 58years of experience based on the pharmacy students’ interests, commitment and spirit. Our events and initiatives have reached far across the globe to influence the lives of pharmacy students just like you. So get involved, and apply for membership today, because WHEREVER you are, IPSF is!!
Sub Committees
Have you ever wondered how members can become more involved in the day-to-day work of IPSF in between the Annual Congresses? Have you wondered whether the experience you have in your own organization can be used and utilized in IPSF? The answer to these questions is the network of subcommittees and working groups set up to assist the Executive to deliver the objectives of the Federation.
Becoming a member of a subcommittee gives you hands on experience of planning and delivering activities, an insight into the operational needs of IPSF and fantastic transferable skills, not to mention the chance to keep in touch with all your IPSF friends throughout the year!
IPSF subcommittees are chaired by members of the IPSF Executive and broadly relate to the portfolio of each member.
For example the Secretary General chairs the Constitutional Working Party. This group is responsible for updating the Official Documents that govern the Federation. This is a great opportunity to develop valuable skills in writing formal documents and to discover how international student organizations are organized. The input of members from different nations and regions allows IPSF to learn from different ideas and practices in our member organizations.
The membership promotion committee is chaired by the Chairperson of Public Relations it composed of regional coordinators whom are responsible for coordinating membership promotion activities in their assigned regions.
Other committees are concerned with initiating, developing and organizing campaigns in areas like public health, pharmacy education and professional development. Examples include collaborative events with other organizations like FIP, EPSA and IFMSA. IPSF welcomes input from enthusiastic students keen to get students input for the programme and also with innovative ideas to encourage and enable attendance from all parts of the world.
Getting involved in these committees is so easy – e-mail ipsf@ipsf.org with your details and your area of interest and we will match you with all the relevant committees and working groups. Who knows – stepping onto a subcommittee could be the first step on a fantastic IPSF career!