Formed in 1942 and first recognised by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as its official student branch in 1967, the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association represents student views and highlights issues relating to pharmacy students in Britain.
The BPSA is also represented on the Society’s English Pharmacy Board, Modernising Pharmacy Careers Programme Board and various steering groups overseeing the current changes in the pharmacy profession.
This allows students to have a direct input into the decision-making process and raise issues that affect the future of the profession, in particular allowing students to influence decisions regarding pharmacy education and assessment. It also gives the members of the association a valuable opportunity to learn more about latest developments at the RPS and the wider pharmacy profession.
As well as being highly effective at representing students at a political level, the BPSA provides the perfect platform for students to get the most from their university days. It actively encourages students to learn more about the world of pharmacy and what the future holds as a qualified member of the profession. The BPSA has an impressive range of events and services available to members.
Events
BPSA events consist of a series of area conferences, an annual conference and two preregistration trainee conferences. Also, it is rapidly becoming a tradition for the BPSA to host an annual public health promotion event that is in line with current public health campaigns. Area conferences are one-day events that combine presentations, workshops and discussions on professional or clinical subjects relevant to practice.
The topics covered at these conferences are often not generally taught as part of the university syllabus so many students appreciate the opportunity to widen their knowledge of alternative treatments, ethical dilemmas and specific patient-care issues.
Over the past two years, there have been days dedicated to pharmacist prescribing, sexual health, alternative therapies, diabetes care and alternative career paths.
A few years ago, the BPSA introduced a new conference into its events portfolio, the “Science into practice” conference. This event focuses on how the science that is taught on the MPharm is used in real life. Speakers from major industrial pharmaceutical companies, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and academia have attended in the past.
During the Easter holiday, the BPSA holds its annual general meeting, known as the BPSA Annual Conference. More than 80 members from across Britain spend a week debating issues of relevance to student welfare, the pharmacy profession and the work of the association itself. This provides students with an open forum to discuss their future, decide official BPSA policy and meet the leaders of the profession in a relaxed environment.
The week also boasts an extensive social programme, ranging from official receptions and themed parties to the grand finale that is the annual BPSA ball. It is at the end of the week that the members elect the executive for the next academic year.
Services
The BPSA offers many services and there is something for everyone. As well as three competitions with great prizes, there are publications distributed to both undergraduate and preregistration trainee members.
Our website is now in its fourth year and is continuously improving to provide up-to-date information on all BPSA events and access to current and past pcublications.
This web-based resource has been further developed to host book reviews, to signpost to relevant resources, information and documents that a student would need to take part in the professional development certificate scheme and to provide much more.
There are also specific services for preregistration trainees. As part of their membership benefits, BPSA preregistration trainee members are signposted to free indemnity insurance providers. For more information, email our graduate officer Laura Broad. Preregistration trainee members also benefit from the preregistration graduate conference, which is held twice during the year.
A free magazine, Graduate Link, is distributed to keep graduates informed of BPSA activities and give indispensable insight into the preregistration year. This is complemented by the BPSA’s undergraduate publication Future Pharmacist, which contains professional articles, approved educational exercises and updates on forthcoming association events.
Members can also sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter, Get Involved, which provides regular updates about upcoming BPSA events, and hints and tips relevant to the time of year (eg, deadlines to applying to summer placements).
The BPSA runs a number of award schemes, including the “McNeil responding to symptoms” competition, the “Reckitt Benckiser student of the year” competition and the “Alliance Healthcare young pharmacist future vision” award. Each of these offers fantastic prizes, as well as being impressive on your CV.
There is also the BPSA-run Travel Fund to help students get involved internationally and the newly launched Science poster competition sponsored by GSK and the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association. Students and preregistration trainees have the opportunity to present research work and could win cash prizes.
By becoming a member of the BPSA, you automatically become a member of the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) and the European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (EPSA). The BPSA, working together with the IPSF, is able to offer a student exchange programme where you can spend time working abroad in any one of over 30 countries, experiencing pharmacy on an international scale. EPSA offers students the chance to meet other like-minded pharmacy students across Europe at a variety of conferences throughout the year.
However, the most successful and popular service offered is the professional development certificate (PDC) scheme. Established in 2001, the scheme has been developed as a result of members asking for accredited events, similar to the continuous educational process carried out by pharmacists. The PDC scheme is produced in conjunction with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which professionally approves our events.
The scheme works on a simple points-collection system, with five points from various approved events and competitions collected in one academic year resulting in an official professional development certificate. Points are awarded for involvement in the area conferences, the annual conference, continuing professional development exercises in Future Pharmacist magazine, local practice forum meetings of the RPS and BPSA competitions.
The BPSA has an educational development officer, James Milner, dedicated to managing and developing this popular scheme.
BPSA representatives
The BPSA represents pharmacy students throughout Britain but, to make sure we can give each member the personal touch, we have created local regions from which to manage events and services. Each region has a dedicated executive member called an area co-ordinator, who is responsible for the organisation of conferences in the area and for providing information via the school of pharmacy and representatives about BPSA services.
Each school of pharmacy has a BPSA representative who acts as a point of contact between the association and local BPSA members to keep students informed about future events and activities.
For more information about all BPSA services, visit the website www.bpsa.co.uk or contact your local representative or area co-ordinator.
Northern Area
Area Co-ordinator: Sheila Doyle Pennine Area
Area Co-ordinator: Maria Kostopoulou Central Area
Area Co-ordinator: Emily Hemsworth Western Area
Area Co-ordinator: Arun Nadarasa Eastern Area
Area Co-ordinator: Funmi Ayeni |
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BPSA Executive
The BPSA Executive consists of a group of 18 undergraduates, preregistration trainees and newly registered pharmacists who volunteer to provide the services and events that the BPSA offers. They do this in their free time and are not paid for their efforts. You can find out more about the executive or contact them via the BPSA website.
Essentially, the BPSA is run by students for students and aims to provide opportunities for future pharmacists to develop a better view of, and influence, our chosen profession. To join the BPSA, go to www.bpsa.co.uk/join. Membership is free to all pharmacy students undertaking an MPharm or undertaking the preregistration year within Britain.
To contact any member of the BPSA executive go to www.bpsa.co.uk/contact.
