Five-Day National eFDP on Professional Upskilling for Pharmacy Educators was hosted by AIPS
A National Virtual Faculty Development Program (eFDP) on “Professional Upskilling for Pharmacy Educators in New-Age Specializations” was successfully conducted from 27th to 31st January 2026, between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, in online mode. The five-day programme was jointly organized by the Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (CSPS), Chettinad Academy of Research & Education (CARE), in collaboration with Apollo Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AIPS), The Apollo University, Chittoor, and the Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association – Tamil Nadu (IPGA-TN). The FDP was conceptualized to strengthen the professional competencies of pharmacy educators by exposing them to emerging scientific domains, regulatory advancements, entrepreneurial pathways, and innovative pedagogical practices, thereby aligning academic delivery with evolving industry and research demands.
The programme commenced on Day 1 (27th January 2026) with a warm welcome address by Dr. K. Lakshmi, Professor & Dean, CSPS, CARE, who highlighted the relevance of continuous professional development for pharmacy educators in an era of rapid technological transformation. The inaugural technical session was delivered by Prof. Dr. S. K. Abdul Rahaman, Vignan’s University, Guntur, on “Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery and Development: Best Practices and Emerging Trends”, providing participants with insights into the transformative role of AI in pharmaceutical research. This was followed by an engaging session by Dr. Prabitha P, Assistant Professor, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, on computational drug discovery, focusing on molecular docking and simulation approaches, which emphasized the growing importance of in silico methods in modern drug design.
Day 2 (28th January 2026) focused on regulatory science and advanced drug delivery systems. Dr. Malakapogu Ravindra Babu, Professor and Program Chair (Regulatory Affairs), Galgotias University, delivered a comprehensive lecture on recent trends in regulatory harmonization and global regulatory strategies, enabling participants to understand international regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements. The second session by Prof. (Dr.) Subas Chandra Dinda, Dean, School of Pharmacy, The Neotia University, addressed nanotheranostics in drug targeting, offering valuable perspectives on cutting-edge nanotechnology applications in precision medicine.
On Day 3 (29th January 2026), the focus shifted toward quality-driven formulation development and herbal drug standardization. Dr. Prathap M, Assistant Professor, VFSTR University, Guntur, elaborated on the role of Design of Experiments (DoE) within the Quality by Design (QbD) framework, highlighting systematic approaches for optimized formulation development. This was followed by an insightful lecture from Dr. Mukesh Singh Sikarwar, Professor and Deputy Director, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, on quality control and standardization of herbal drugs, reinforcing the importance of scientific validation and regulatory compliance in traditional medicine systems.
Day 4 (30th January 2026) emphasized entrepreneurship and academia–industry integration. Dr. Krantisagar More, Senior Advisor, Savishkar India and Formulation Scientist, GLF Pvt. Ltd., delivered an inspiring session on new-age pharmaceutical entrepreneurship, discussing opportunities, challenges, and future directions for India’s pharma sector. The subsequent session by Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Kumar Singh, Director, Centre for Teaching Learning and Development, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, focused on bridging academia–industry skill gaps to develop industry-ready pharmacy graduates, underscoring the role of educators in shaping employability-focused curricula.
The FDP concluded on Day 5 (31st January 2026) with sessions dedicated to industry trends and innovative teaching methodologies. Dr. Mukesh Nandave, Associate Dean (Research) and Officiating Director, DPSR University, New Delhi, spoke on industry trends and entrepreneurial pathways for pharmacy educators, encouraging participants to adopt translational and industry-linked research approaches. The final technical session by Prof. Krishnapriya Mohanraj, Bombay College of Pharmacy, addressed conceptual learning pedagogy, highlighting innovative teaching strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. K. Bhaskar Reddy, Professor & Dean, Apollo Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Apollo University, acknowledging the contributions of all speakers, moderators, organizers, and participants.
Overall, the five-day national eFDP served as a rich academic platform for pharmacy educators across the country, fostering knowledge exchange, professional upskilling, and collaborative learning. The diverse range of topics, eminent resource persons, and interactive discussions significantly enhanced participants’ understanding of emerging pharmaceutical sciences, regulatory frameworks, entrepreneurship, and modern pedagogy, reinforcing the programme’s objective of preparing educators for future-ready pharmacy education.