Earlier this year, twenty drug makers were accused of collusion to inflate prices of drugs by up to 1000 per cent in the lawsuit filed by 44 US states in a district court in Connecticut. The biggest loser was India’s largest pharma company, by sales, who is already under a cloud over corporate governance issues and is facing SEBI probe on charges of funds diversion. Another Pharma giant, this time the world’s largest generic drug maker, was accused of orchestrating the scandal that includes seven Indian drug makers.
All this points out that Pharmaceutical Education is not just reading doctor prescription notes and handing out medicines over the counter but being committed to the goodwill of the society. Indian Pharmaceutical industry needs principled leaders who put the society’s needs over their own personal financial greed. With a vested interest in making this happen is Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research, Pimpri, Pune.
Established in 1994, DYPIPSR truly understands that there is a dearth of skilled students who are better prepared to solve complex problems in an interdisciplinary, global context. Hence, DYPIPSR is continuously trying to find ways to bridge the gap between industry requirement and academic proficiency to produce a well-trained, disciplined workforce that is in sync with the ever-changing demand of the corporate world.
The institute currently offers Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master of Pharmacy (Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance & Pharmacology), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Diploma in pharmacy, and Doctorate (Ph. D.) in Pharmaceutics, Pharm. Chemistry, Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy. Approved by AICTE and PCI, DYPIPSR is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune (SPPU). The institute is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bengaluru, with ‘A’ Grade, reaccredited by National Board of Accreditation (NBA) New Delhi for the period of five years, Ranked consecutively for last three years amongst 50 top institutes in India by NIRF, Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi, received Best College Award by SPPU and is also certified by ISO 9001:2008, 14001:2004.
Advocates of Student-Centric Quality Education
With the aim to impart quality pharmacy education and training to cater to the needs of pharmacy profession and society at large, DYPIPSR, since its inception, has maintained high standards in infrastructural facilities and pedagogy that are constantly reviewed and upgraded to reflect the latest trends and developments in higher education and meet the regulatory requirements.
Continuously addressing the learning needs of students and their skill development, the faculty places special emphasis on teaching-learning methodologies and evaluation techniques, which play a pivotal role in the process of dissemination of knowledge. Adopting various modern learning strategies like ICT-enabled techniques, interactive and collaborative learning, learning beyond syllabus, problem-based and self-directed learning, the institute enables the students to look beyond short-term goals, and withstand challenges and setbacks to persevere towards their long-term goals.
DYPIPSR understands that no two students are the same; therefore, the institute follows a student-centric Teaching–Learning methodology. Slow learners are motivated and counselled continuously through mentoring to excel in the academics, while advanced learners are promoted for various intercollegiate competitions to enhance research aptitude. Guidance sessions for competitive exams like GPAT, IELTS, MPSC, UPSC, GRE and various certificate courses are conducted on a regular basis, which helps the students to choose career options wisely.
Mental Health Takes the Front Seat
Placing special emphasis on the mental health of the students, DYPIPSR provides a stress-free environment through support systems consisting of anti-ragging, internal complaint committee, Grievance Redressal cell, SC/ST Cell, etc. Additionally, DYPIPSR’s alumni association is ever ready to extend their guidance & career progress to the existing students, thereby not only inspiring them but also providing peer advice.
“Mental health decides an influence how one feels and behaves in daily life and it also affects one’s ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships and recover from life’s setbacks and hardships. Emotional and behavioural quotients of the students are taken care of by a well-polished mentoring system. Students are assigned with faculty mentors who regularly conduct mentoring and counselling sessions. During mentoring, the students are evaluated for their learning ability, independent working ability, leadership quality, team working ability, clarity about career objectives, etc., as these qualities help them to assure successful career.” says Dr. Sohan S. Chitlange, Principal and professor, Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
Championing Pharmaceutical Innovation
DYPIPSR faculty embraces the challenges of the 21st Century by building new bridges across old boundaries. These bridges include new educational program and interdisciplinary studies, strategic partnership with private and public R&D centres that pool resources and promote innovative research and new international relationships. Continuous encouragement and freedom are given to excel in the field of interest and financial support is provided to attend national and international level seminars and conferences. “Presently, our faculty contributes to the pharmacy profession as a reviewer and Editorial board members for both, in house and external, National and International journals. Moreover, owing to their research competency, they were also invited to deliver talks and to share their expertise in conferences held at Italy, Korea, London, Norway, Dubai, Macau etc.,” says Dr. Somnath Patil, Secretary, Dr. D. Y. Patil Unitech Society and Member, Management Council, Savitribai Phule Pune University. While the institute revels in the accomplishments of its faculty, DYPIPSR also plans to set a Teacher’s Training Institute, thereby bringing in fresh brains to the teacher community.
Infrastructure That Beats Global Standards
Providing state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities, DYPIPSR has spacious well-ventilated classrooms that are equipped with multimedia and audio-visual equipment to facilitate effective teaching/learning. Classrooms with LCD and audio-visual facilities are used for effective and interactive teaching, tutorial and remedial classes.
The institute also showcases ultramodern laboratories that are well designed and equipped with sophisticated analytical instruments (UV, FTIR, HPLC, HPTLC, Spray dryer, Particle size analyzer, Spheronizer, Cooling centrifuge, Deep freezer, Microplate reader etc.) and Hi-tech facilities for imparting updated education and training in various subjects of pharmacy. These ultramodern facilities are utilized for collaboration and consultancy projects. The Industrial laboratory has been set up with advanced pharmaceutical machineries (Tablet punching machine, Tablet coater, Extruder, Fluidized bed processor etc.) to provide a good industrial atmosphere.
The Animal House facility at DYPIPSR is in accordance with the standard established by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). The facility is available to boost the teaching, training and research facilities and meet the growing demand for high-quality laboratory animals in the emergent field of Experimental Pharmacology. It is also utilized to carry out pharmacological studies of industrial projects.
The Library at DYPIPSR boasts of a rich collection of latest editions of textbooks, reference books, allied books along with CD’s and equipped with OPAC software. Various national and international journals and periodicals are regularly subscribed by the library. Meanwhile, the digital library is enriched with e-journals, e-books, online library membership of British library, learning modules and assessment modules for core subjects. The language laboratory in the library gives exposure to the students to prepare for the various international competitive exams (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS etc.).
Fostering Fruitful Industry Collaborations
Establishing industrial collaborations will have great bearing on the curriculum, exposure of students to the industrial atmosphere and subsequent placement of students in industries across the globe. To this extent, DYPIPSR is constantly aspiring to build strong collaboration and partnerships with the industries through various ways like joint research collaboration, guest sessions by industry experts, industrial trainings, train & hire models, instrumental trainings by industry experts, industrial visits for practical approach to students, as well as internship. Some of the institute’s Major Collaborations are GlaxoSmithKline Asia Private Ltd., Bangalore and Cognizant Technology Solutions India Private Limited. “DYPIPSR is amongst very few institutes having this collaboration that includes training by GSK experts at our place as well as assured internship to qualified students. This collaboration acquainted students with current national and international facets of regulatory guidelines by GSK experts, Internship opportunities to the M. Pharm Students, Faculty Training and Development & Assistance in Placement Activities.” says Dr. P. D. Patil, Chancellor, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth.
Furthermore, these partnerships support students to know industrial expectations, as well as get trained with developed qualities as per career requirements. Due to this continued effort to harbour industry relationships, DYPIPSR has achieved “Platinum”, highest, grade under AICTE-CII Survey consecutively for the last two years towards Industry linked Academic Institutions at all India level. Similarly, DYPIPSR has signed MOUs with Cognizant Technologies India Ltd for “Train and Hire Model”. Cognizant Technology Solutions India Private Limited helps students to understand Pharmacovigilance. Along the same lines, to strengthen the academic quality and to provide new horizons in the higher studies, the institute has signed MoU with Griffith College, Ireland. Similarly, in an attempt to educate the students about job responsibilities & opportunities of pharmacists in U.K., DYPIPSR has arranged interactive sessions with clinical pharmacists of Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster. U.K. Likewise, faculties & students of St. John Fischer College, Wegman School of Pharmacy, Rochester, New York, USA, visit DYPIPSR every year and hold student interactions regarding global clinical practices, which helps them to get acquainted with current circumstances. To exchange the research ideas with their students, DYPIPSR ensures to provide a common platform through poster presentations, one-to-one interaction etc. DYPIPSR also held a Campus Drive for LIFE Pharmacy in Dubai that aimed at providing international job opportunities. In the long run, DYPIPSR aims at expanding its industry collaborations for providing industrial trainings and internship to the students and also to boost job opportunities around a globe. Moreover, the institute also plans to open its gates for a more efficient Student/Faculty exchange programs with international universities.
The Institutional Research and Development Cell
Promoting research activities, the Institutional Research and Development Cell fosters an environment conducive for research. Currently, DYPIPSR has signed MOUs with various research organization and industries. Such efforts have helped the institute to set up sophisticated facilities and promoted research in core competency areas. Particulars of the projects with liaisons are as follows:
- Formulation and stability testing of pharmaceutical products
- Optimization of targeted and novel drug delivery systems such as solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, phytosomes, etc.
- Pharmaceutical product development by 3D printing
- Development, evaluation and standardization of herbal formulations and Ayurvedic formulations
- Isolation and characterization of Phyto-constituents
- Identification and confirmation using standard marker compound by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
- Toxicology profile, development of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics parameters of developed formulation and isolated lead compounds
Presently, DYPIPSR nurtures relationships with Indus Biotech Pvt. Ltd. Pune; Nutralytica Research Pvt. Ltd. (NRPL), Nashik; Central Dogma Lab., Baner, Pune; CIMED Life, Bangalore; Ari Healthcare Ltd., Pune; MPREX Healthcare, Pune; MB Healthcare, Pune; and Geneombio Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Pune to execute research activities in diverse areas like formulation and development of new dosage forms, analytical research, Molecular pharmacology and biotech techniques. These research collaborations facilitate exchange of ideas between students, faculty and research scientists and create competitive learning and Research environment. DYPIPSR has also constituted dedicated research and development cell to plan and activate joint collaborative research work, thereby improving the delivery of quality of technical education.
Ideate, Innovate, Implement
DYPIPSR’s Entrepreneurship Development Cell aims to improve and generate a culture of innovation and development of entrepreneurial spirit amongst the students to start their own enterprise. It also attempts to train and equip them with the knowledge and resources to build successful business empires. The realization that a robust framework of education is indispensable for the growth of global leaders, the institute boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure for its students. All these facilities go a long way in ensuring a perfect ambience for academic pursuits. DYPIPSR ensures the effective utilization of infrastructure and resources not only for the students but for all the stakeholders.
DYPIPSR imbibes human excellence and demonstrates strong social values, with a single-minded pursuit of developing the students to become good human being. Continuously motivated to meet the global challenges, DYPIPSR marches forward with goals for the all-round development of the students and to establish itself as a center of excellence for Phytopharmaceuticals. Glancing at the milestones that the institute has managed to cover in the past 20+ decades only amplifies the genius that Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research is.