Graduate Teaching Assistants, Sophie Oduyale and Flavia Ghouri, were recently successful in being awarded funding from the university’s deans for diversity to organise an event to suppport and empower the diverse range of undergraduate students enrolled on the pharmacy course.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the regulatory body for pharmacists, released a report in 2016 highlighting a significant discrepancy in the pre-registration examination pass rate based on ethnicity – passing this exam is essential for registering as a pharmacist in the UK. Figures from the university also suggests a disparity based on race in terms of achieving a first or upper-second classfication. Through this funding, we endeavour to support and develop our students by running a series of events focusing on overcoming issues that might otherwise affect students’ learning and progress.

We plan to run a three-day workshop event, spread across the autumn and spring terms, targeting pharmacy undergraudate students. The objectives are to; create an accessibility to positive Black and Minority Ethnic BAME role models, promote cultural awareness to different styles of learning, encourage students in seeking opportunities beyond university, and an introduction to emotional awareness including its relevance to interviews and learning at university. At the end of each session, the students will have the opportunity to network with each other and the guest speakers to encourage the formation of supportive peer networks.

Please watch the space for further information and announcements.