EDITORIAL: An overview of Portugal's educational challenges and responses to the global pandemic of COVID-19

Authors

  • Filipa Alves da Costa University of Lisbon; Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society; CiiEM, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0562-2514
  • Maria Deolinda Auxtero Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Portugal
  • Ana Paula Martins University of Lisbon; Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society;
  • Maria Margarida Caramona Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society; University of Coimbra, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.98101

Keywords:

blended learning, COVID-19, digital platforms, interprofessional collaboration, pharmacy education, pharmacy practice

Abstract

The current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 came un-expectantly and required unprecedented ability to adapt and quickly put in place the most appropriate response measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 disease, while minimising disruption to society’s essential activities. Some sectors were more capable of adapting and reacting than others. Higher education was one of the sectors where the academic capacity (FIP Development Goal 1) demonstrated was phenomenal, partially attributable to the ability to create partnerships between academia and practice. This editorial provides a description of the major changes put in place in Portugal to ensure the education and training of future graduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences was maintained with the same quality. It also discusses some of the potentially less beneficial long-term impacts of these adaptions to the teaching and assessment methods for the competencies of the workforce of tomorrow.

Author Biographies

Filipa Alves da Costa , University of Lisbon; Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society; CiiEM, Portugal

Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon

Maria Deolinda Auxtero, Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Portugal

CiiEM, Interdisciplinary Research Center Egas Moniz

Ana Paula Martins, University of Lisbon; Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society;

Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy; Institute for Evidence-Based Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal

 

Maria Margarida Caramona, Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society; University of Coimbra, Portugal

Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society (Ordem dos Farmacêuticos), Lisbon; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra

References

Alves da Costa, F., Martins, A., Veiga, F., Ramalhinho, I., Lobo, J., Rodrigues, L., Granadeiro, L., Castro, M., Barata, P., Gomes, P., Seabra, V., & Caramona, M. (2020). Development of a Platform to Align Education and Practice: Bridging Academia and the Profession in Portugal. Pharmacy, 8(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.3390.pharmacy8010011

European Parliament and of the Council. (2013). Directive 2013/55/EU of 20 November, amending Directive 2005/36/EC and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012. Brussels. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX: 32013L0055&from=PT

European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association. (2018). The Methodology Booklet. . (E. Commission, Ed.) Brussels. Available at: https://www.epsa-online.org/methodology-booklet/

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Published

15-01-2021

How to Cite

Alves da Costa , F., Auxtero, M. D. ., Martins, A. P. ., & Caramona, M. M. (2021). EDITORIAL: An overview of Portugal’s educational challenges and responses to the global pandemic of COVID-19. Pharmacy Education, 20(2), p. 98 – 101. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.98101