Academic mobility in pharmacy faculty: An exploratory study

Authors

  • Annemiek A. P. Bosman International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), PO Box 84200, 2508AE, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • Helga Garðarsdóttir International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), PO Box 84200, 2508AE, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • Linda Härmark International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), PO Box 84200, 2508AE, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • Luís Miguel Lourenço International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), PO Box 84200, 2508AE, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • Tana Wuliji International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), PO Box 84200, 2508AE, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • Ian Bates School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
  • Sarah Carter School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK

Keywords:

Pharmacy faculty, academic teachers, questionnaire, principal component analysis, mobility

Abstract

Introduction: Academics who take part in international exchange programmes gain invaluable experience, which can add to their students’ educational experience (Tremblay 2004). These programmes provide the opportunity for educators to share knowledge and ideas with different cultures and disseminate gained knowledge back to their home institute.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate current international trends in the exchange of academic teachers in the field of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences and to identify factors that promote or deter academic mobility.

Method: A questionnaire containing 28 statements relating to academic mobility was posted or emailed to pharmacy academic staff at universities on all continents.

Results: Principal components analysis (PCA) yielded four factors, representing 50.1% total variance. These were a proactive attitude towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD), language and culture as barriers to mobility, personal and situational factors as barriers to mobility and potential knowledge gain as a motivation for mobility. Results suggest that academics who had worked abroad had a more proactive attitude towards CPD (t = 22.63, p = 0.009) perceived a greater potential knowledge gain from international academic experience (t = 24.61, p , 0.0001) and perceived lower language barriers (t = 3.49, p = 0.001) than staff who had not worked abroad. Other results suggest demographic factors were related to these factors.

Discussion: It is not possible from this study to ascertain whether these differences in attitudes and perceptions are motivating factors for academic staff to engage in international exchange programmes, or are a result of having worked abroad. If it is the former, staff could be encouraged to engage in mobility programmes by emphasising the benefits of professional development. If it is the latter, the potential knowledge gained from working in other countries could be highlighted. In addition, if language is seen as a barrier to working abroad, lessons in the foreign language could be provided. Longitudinal studies would clarify the direction of these relationships.

References

European Commission Education and Training Erasmus Scheme, http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/erasmus/ erasmus_en.html.

Hoare, A. G. (1994). Transferred skills and university excellence? An exploratory analysis of the geography of mobility of UK academic staff. Geografiska Annaler, 76B, 143–160.

Meyer, J. B., & Brown, M. (1999). Scientific diasporas: A new approach to the brain drain, Discussion paper no. 41. Prepared for the World Conference on Science, UNESCO-ICSU. Available from www.unesco.org/most/meyer.htm.

Tremblay, K. (2004). Links between academic mobility and immigration. In Symposium on international labour and academic mobility: Emerging trends and implications for public policy, Toronto, Canada; October 2004.

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How to Cite

Bosman, A. A. P., Garðarsdóttir, H., Härmark, L., Lourenço, L. M., Wuliji, T., Bates, I., & Carter, S. (2018). Academic mobility in pharmacy faculty: An exploratory study. Pharmacy Education, 7(2). Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/139

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2007)

Section

Research Article

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