Deputy Dean Anja Sandström: We must work together to raise the number of applicants for our educations

(Image removed) Anja Sandström, Deputy dean at the Faculty of Pharmacy

Why did you choose to accept the position as Deputy dean?
“I simply have a genuine interest and a great commitment to pharmaceutical education. Both as a teacher and as responsible for more comprehensive issues, I consistently strive to provide our students with a high-quality education and the best of conditions for a successful professional life.”

What makes you the right person for the job?
“I come well prepared with many years of experience of the various parts of the education, development of pedagogy and programs, committee work, collaboration with the pharmaceutical student union and student recruitment. In addition, I hope to contribute with sensitivity, a solution-focused approach and the ambition to make collegially based decisions.”

What challenges will you take on first?
“We are facing a number of important tasks. Our revision of the Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy must be realized and managed. The Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy is already undergoing corresponding development and both educations will require intensive work for some time to come. We must also continue to focus on social and climate-smart sustainability in the course content, as such knowledge is becoming increasingly in demand in the job market. In addition, we are currently welcoming an increasing number of international students, including the first participants in our new international master's program Drug Discovery and Development.”

How will the autumn term be affected by the ongoing pandemic?
“We are preparing for continued distance learning. The students that are about to start their education are given the opportunity to spend some time on campus as we see it as a necessity, not least for social reasons, but of course it must be done in a smart and safe way. We also reason about how we can motivate the teacher through another term of such circumstances. Everyone contributed with great deeds in the spring, but we are aware that it is a struggle.”

Do you see any values ​​that we can bring with us post-corona?
“Absolutely. Above all, we see how much that can actually be done digitally. The thresholds have been lowered for online-meetings, and by recording and offering lectures online, we have made education more accessible to a number of student groups. So even though it may be exhausting right now, it is undoubtedly investments that we will benefit greatly from in the future.”

Looking ahead, where do you want to see the faculty's degree programs in ten years?
“I have a relatively clear picture where the core is a first-class education that gives each individual student what they need to take on the role of a future pharmaceutical expert. We will achieve this with a recognized skilled teaching staff with a good research connection, pedagogical methods that engage, as well as relevant and clear requirements that provide students the conditions to reach their degree. At the same time, we must also strengthen our internationalization and collaboration with the profession in order to to raise the number of applicants for the faculty's programs. In short, there is no shortage of either opportunities or challenges, rather a matter of resources and priorities.”

ANJA SANDSTRÖM

• Deputy dean for first and second cycle education at the Faculty of Pharmacy
• Recipient of the 2019 educational award in the field of medicine and pharmacy
• Excellent teacher, appointed 2017

Contact

(Image removed) Sandström, Anja
Deputy dean, Faculty of Pharmacy
018-471 5026, anja.sandstrom@ilk.uu.se

More information Temasida om farmaceutiska fakultetens utbildningar (In Swedish)
Also read Dean Mathias Hallberg: We must enhance the visibility of the Faculty of Pharmacy

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt