APPEL (Affiliation for Pharmacy Practice Experiential Learning) has announced that it is now seeking expressions of interest from pharmacists in all practice settings who would like to facilitate an experiential learning placement for a fourth-year pharmacy student next year.
Pharmacy students in Ireland now undertake a five-year integrated masters programme to become qualified pharmacists. Key to this new programme are the experiential learning placements that students undertake throughout the course. In the fourth year of their studies, students have the opportunity to put their academic knowledge into practice in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industry, academic, regulatory, and other practice settings.
Pharmacists who have previously facilitated APPEL placements have found the experience enjoyable and rewarding. In surveys, 90 per cent of pharmacists said they would recommend facilitating a placement to other pharmacists. According to APPEL, the advantages of facilitating a placement include:
? Continuing professional development — APPEL Trainer Training can contribute to pharmacists’ CPD, as can the experience of facilitating a placement.
? Development of a talent pipeline — many students will look to start their career in the organisations or practice settings where they undertook their placements.
? Engagement — participating in the APPEL programme provides the opportunity to increase awareness of your pharmacy/organisation. APPEL training and events provide networking opportunities.
The next fourth-year placements will run from 27 August to 17 December 2021. The deadline to confirm an interest in offering placements is 1 November 2020.
For further information or to ask any questions regarding placements, call APPEL on 01-4025129 or email ops@appel.ie.
