School of Pharmaceutical Technology, Adamas University, Kolkata

School of Pharmaceutical Technology, Adamas University, Kolkata: Producing Best-in-the-class Pharmaceutical Professionals

Pharmaceutical education is a vast, dynamic professional education for the development of the individual as well as the country, with a view to safeguard public health. The pharmaceutical companies had realised long ago that just selling traditional medicines will not produce the desired growth nor even sustain competitiveness. This led to a fundamental change known as moving ‘beyond the pill’ which arose from two main realisations: The Pharma-IoT concepts involving digitization of medical products; and related care processes using smart connected medical devices and IT services (web, mobile, apps, etc.) during drug development, patient care, and clinical trials.

With this shift in overall approach, the ﬁeld of pharma got a whole lot more interesting. The outcomes of Pharma-IoT in development and clinical trials can employ combinations of advanced technologies and services to create totally new kinds of diseases treatment possibilities. Fortunately, our next pick for ‘The 10 Most leading Institutes in Pharmacy, 2021’ is an institute which, with the combination of proﬁcient faculty, extensive industry connect, and multitudes of resources, has produced the crème de la crème of pharmaceutical professionals. This is the School of Pharmaceutical Technology, Adamas University, Kolkata.

The School of Pharmaceutical Technology (SOPT) started its journey in July 2016 at the sprawling lush green campus of Adamas Knowledge City, about 13 km away from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport, Kolkata with the four-year B. Pharm program. In the year 2017, the school started 2-year Diploma program (D. Pharm). Both B. Pharm and D. Pharm programs are approved by Pharmacy Council of India under section 12 of the Pharmacy Council Act, 1948. The school was set up with a vision to create and disseminate knowledge for producing quality health care professionals with global standards.

The salient features of the school are:

Highly qualiﬁed, experienced, and motivated faculty members
Link-up with industries facilitating practical training
14 well-equipped laboratories with state-of-art facilities
9 cosy air-conditioned classrooms ﬁtted with audio-visual aids

Excellent collection of books and journals
On-campus Wi-Fi facilities
Sprawling campus with gymnasium, playgrounds, and other sports facilities
Separate hostel facilities for boys and girls
Opportunities for higher education

Opportunities for professional skill development
Option to select elective subjects suited for diverse employment potential

The Guiding Vision of the School

To be an internationally recognized university through excellence in interdisciplinary education, research, and innovation, preparing socially responsible well-grounded individuals contributing to nation building.

The Inspiring Mission Statement

Improve employability through futuristic curriculum and progressive pedagogy with cutting-edge technology

Foster outcomes-based education system for continuous improvement in education, research, and all allied activities

Instil the notion of lifelong learning through culture of research and innovation

Collaborate with industries, research centres and professional bodies to stay relevant and up-to-date

Inculcate ethical principles and develop understanding of environmental and social realities

“Adamas University provides diﬀerent trainings to the students in reputed pharma USFDA approved plants for the upliftment of their career as well as their future in healthcare profession”

All Round Development

The School of Pharmaceutical Technology abides by the PCI (Pharmacy Council of India) syllabus. However, inclusion of minors gives an extra edge to the skill development of the students. Centre for Professional Studies takes care of the grooming and communication skills so that students are job ready. The centre also oﬀers coaching for GRE and TOEFL exams for higher studies in foreign institutes. Dedicated faculty members also help with GPAT coaching. The institute also oﬀers for student exchange with foreign institutes. Career Development Cell arranges for internships with USFDA approved plants like Sun Pharma, Cipla, Cadilla, etc where majority of the students get absorbed after completing their degrees.

Various types of extra-curricular activities are encouraged like sports, music, quiz, debates, etc. The institute each year arranges for intra department cultural competitions. During the annual fest held in the university, inter-department cultural competitions are also held in which the students participate with full enthusiasm. Each year an Annual Sports Day is held where various sports activities are organized for the students. Besides, there are around 16 clubs like the Music Club or Karate Club in the university which engage the students in their respective areas of interest. There are examples of many students participating in state/national level sports contests representing the university and winning trophies. Dhoni Cricket Academy trains the students in cricket.

Leader of the Pack

Prof Samit Ray (Chancellor, Adamas University, Kolkata) is a pioneer of modern education in West Bengal stretching from school to university to competitive coaching, his work straddles multiple areas. It is a fruit of three and half decades of commitment, focus, hard work and love. He is the Founder-Chairman of RICE Group, which had envisioned, way back in the 80’s, a form of training that would be a synergy of knowledge, skill, research and creativity, and would consistently aim at the upliftment of urban and rural youth by making them competent enough to face any competitive examination for government jobs.

His vision is that of producing polished dazzling diamonds symbolizing industry-ready professionals from uncut diamonds symbolizing students without proper employability skills, be the main backbone of the university. His continuous support in pursuing excellence in academics, research and international relations is the major strength of the institution.

Some of his noteworthy achievements are listed below:

The title of ‘Emeritus Professor’ by the Dnepropertrovsk University of Ukraine
Special recognition as education entrepreneur of India by North America Bengali Conference

Mother Teresa International Award by Mother Teresa International Award Committee – 2018
WCRC- Leaders Excellence Award for excellence in education, innovation, and leadership – in Asia Region 2012-13
Global Indian Excellence Award – 2014 at London
Most Promising Leader – Consumer and Product Survey by WCRC – 2014 and many more.

Overcoming Hardships

During the initial phase, the institute had a handful of faculty members and the advisory board members, and their major challenge was to obtain the conditional approval from the regulatory body of pharmacy education in India: The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). The PCI oﬀers its aﬃliation only after completion of four academic years to an institute under Section 12.

However, during the initial years the Institute should have the conditional approval of PCI to run the course. SOPT has obtained the conditional approval of PCI each year since its initiation and ﬁnally achieved the regulatory compliance under section 12 after completing its fourth academic year.

The most encouraging fact is that since the birth of SOPT, it got 100% response from the students and all its seats were ﬁlled up as per the eligibility criteria.

Adamas University introduced diﬀerent online platforms for continuing the classes in Covid period. They have used Microsoft teams, zoom, AU virtual lab for the regular theory and practical classes. Further, for evaluation of the students, Blooms Taxonomy was adopted to frame questions along with regular viva and assessments. Academics in Adamas continue under all circumstances irrespective of the global condition. Adamas has also created diﬀerent online platforms for counselling the student’s psychology in the time of COVID. In this regard, Adamas oﬀered diﬀerent online certiﬁcate courses like Coursera, NPTEL to the students. Most of the students completed those courses successfully and gained additional knowledge apart from regular academics.

Preparing Professionals

Adamas University provides diﬀerent trainings and internships to the students in reputed pharma USFDA approved plants for the upliftment of their career as well as their future in healthcare profession. Adamas University has been giving the space to the students in diﬀerent international seminars, diﬀerent hands-on training and workshops for seeking a strong hold in health care profession by experts from diﬀerent domains.

Adamas University has also been encouraging the students to participate in diﬀerent research and outcome-based projects. The institute has its own medicinal garden where diﬀerent plants are cultivated, and extraction and isolation of actives is carried out. Further animal house facilities are also there where preclinical studies may be conducted. Students are trained to handle high-end instruments like HPLC, UV spectroscopy, dissolution apparatus, etc to make them industry ready and enhance their employability potential.

Additionally, Adamas University has 16 diﬀerent special clubs like the ‘Innovation Think Tank’,

‘Entrepreneurship Club’, etc for the student’s participation and to gain expertise especially in medicine and healthcare.

A Bright Future Awaits

Introduction of M. Pharm program from the academic year 2021-22.
Introduction of PhD program in Pharmacy from the academic year 2021-22.

The school also has a plan to strive for high-end research which can traverse from lab to clinic.
Work hand in hand with multinational pharmaceutical industries on projects favouring industry-academia partnerships.