What are the attributes of good pharmacy faculty (lecturers)? An international comparison of the views of pharmacy undergraduate students from universities in Australia and Wales, UK

Authors

  • M Joy Spark La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
  • Rawan Tawil La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
  • Breannan O'Brien La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
  • Zelda Sutherland-Plozza La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
  • Sarah Charles La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
  • Dai N John Cardiff University, Wales http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4721-6170

Keywords:

Assessment, Feedback, Learning, Interaction, Motivation, Student Support

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate what La Trobe pharmacy students (Australia) considered to be the attributes of a good lecturer (faculty member) and to compare the findings to pharmacy undergraduates at Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom (UK). A 22 item questionnaire, developed at Cardiff, was administered to students at La Trobe University. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and Mann-Whitney U Test or Kruskal-Wallis Test were used to compare groups. Ethics approval was obtained. Pharmacy students believed good lecturers (faculty) provided clear instruction and assessment criteria, were enthusiastic, inspired students to do their best, motivated students to learn, were accessible for support and started the teaching sessions on time. They also provided timely feedback and illustrated the relevance of material to pharmacy. Australian and UK pharmacy undergraduates in this study shared the same opinions on most aspects of the positive attributes of faculty (lecturers). 

Author Biographies

M Joy Spark, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria

School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS)

Rawan Tawil, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria

School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS)

Breannan O'Brien, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria

School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS)

Zelda Sutherland-Plozza, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria

School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS)

Sarah Charles, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria

School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS)

Dai N John, Cardiff University, Wales

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Published

10-02-2017

How to Cite

Spark, M. J., Tawil, R., O’Brien, B., Sutherland-Plozza, Z., Charles, S., & John, D. N. (2017). What are the attributes of good pharmacy faculty (lecturers)? An international comparison of the views of pharmacy undergraduate students from universities in Australia and Wales, UK. Pharmacy Education, 17. Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/490

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Section

Research Article