On September 21, 2024, the Faculty of Pharmacy at Ton Duc Thang University organized a career orientation seminar with alumni and current students under the theme "Equipping Future Pharmacists" at meeting room A101. The event aimed to provide a platform for alumni and current students of the Faculty to meet, share experiences, and discuss career pathways in the pharmaceutical field, helping students better prepare for their future careers.

The panel discussion was graced by the presence of the leadership from the Faculty of Pharmacy, including Dr. Le Quoc Viet – Assistant Dean, and Dr. Nguyen Minh Hien – Assistant Dean. Additionally, the seminar was honored to welcome the faculty members and staff from the Faculty of Pharmacy, including MSc. Phan Thi Phuong Thuy, MSc. Nguyen Duc Tri Thuc, MSc. Pham Thanh An, MSc. Tran Mong Kha, and MSc. Ngo Thi My Duyen. Accompanying the program were eight distinguished alumni working in various fields of the pharmaceutical industry, such as clinical pharmacy, drug manufacturing, pharmaceutical business, and drug research and development. These included Pharmacist Ho Nhat Tan – Department of Pharmacy, Gia Dinh People's Hospital (K22), Pharmacist Tran Minh Triet – Department of Pharmacy, FV Hospital (K21), Pharmacist Tran Nhat Thien – Pharmacy of Nam Sai Gon General Hospital (K19), Pharmacist Nguyen Quoc Thai – Stellapharm Co., Ltd. (K22), Pharmacist O Dat Vinh – Pfizer Vietnam Co., Ltd. (K22), Pharmacist Tran Thanh Phuong – Boston Pharma Joint Stock Company (K22), Pharmacist Tran Luu Thanh Ngoc – FPT Long Chau (K19), and Pharmacist Nguyen Hoang Vu – SEN Pharma Co., Ltd. (K19). In addition, the program also had the participation of 10 Alumni and 50 students of all courses.

At the beginning of the program, the leadership of the Faculty delivered a welcoming speech and expressed gratitude to the faculty members and alumni who contributed to and participated in the seminar. To foster an open atmosphere and provide a comprehensive view of various fields within the pharmaceutical working environment, eight alumni were invited to present and share insights about their current jobs. Their discussions conmprised practical experiences, essential skills and knowledge that students should acquire to prepare for their future careers, as well as suggestions for improvements to the Faculty's training program.

At the conclusion of the alumni presentations, several key suggestions were offered to improve the training program at the Faculty of Pharmacy. Notably, the alumni emphasized the need to enhance knowledge and skills related to clinical pharmacy, especially in patient and healthcare staff communication. They also proposed updating the curriculum to better align with the realities of pharmaceutical manufacturing under EU-GMP standards, as well as improving the use of foreign languages in a globalized working environment. Additionally, alumni highlighted the importance of providing students with early opportunities for internships and hands-on experience to enhance their awareness and preparation. Finally, strengthening connections with other universities to increase scholarship opportunities for postgraduate studies was also suggested, which could  support students in their long-term academic and professional development.

The Faculty of Pharmacy has acknowledged these valuable contributions and is committed to further discussions on appropriate adjustments to the curriculum. The Faculty will also consider to organize more extracurricular activities to better equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the pharmaceutical industry in the future

To continue the seminar, students had the opportunity to directly ask questions and engage in discussions with the guests regarding their concerns and uncertainties in preparing for their future careers. Through this Q&A session, students received practical and specific advice from those who have previously experienced similar career paths.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, the Faculty leadership, along with the guests and students, participated in a photo session to capture the memorable moments of the event. This also served as a symbol to the strong connection between alumni and undergraduate students, while reaffirming the Faculty of Pharmacy's commitment to continually enhancing the quality of education to meet the demands of society and the pharmaceutical industry.

The Faculty of Pharmacy would like to sincerely thank all the Alumni for taking the time to return to TDTU. Together with the teachers, you have recalled the beautiful memories of your university days and given the current generation of students a lot of useful knowledge and advice. We wish you, the Alumni, good health and more success in your career.

Here are some memorable photos of the discussion.