Students from the S.D. Asfendyarov Kazakh National Medical University attended a summer school at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (China)
From 23 June to 3 July 2026, a group of students from the School of Pharmacy and the Faculty of International Studies at the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) successfully completed a course at the International Summer School organised by Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (SPU). The programme was attended not only by students from the S. D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU), but also by their peers from Uzbekistan, highlighting the regional scope of the initiative.
Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (SPU) is a Chinese state university located in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province. It is the first and one of the most renowned research universities in China specialising in pharmacology.
In addition to traditional Chinese medicine, SPU also studies Western medicine and develops unique medicines and treatment methods that combine these approaches. The university’s study programmes are not limited to medicine; they treat medicine as a full-cycle business, from the development of medicines to their sale and application. The university has its own pharmaceutical factory.
A School of Pharmacology has been established at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in collaboration with Jilin University and China Medical University. SPU also plays an active role in international exchange programmes, as well as academic and research activities. Close ties have been forged with educational institutions in over 20 different countries, including the USA, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Shenyang is one of China’s ten largest cities. The city boasts ancient relics protected by UNESCO, numerous museums, Chinese opera, and schools of calligraphy and martial arts. Student life at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University is rich and varied, extending far beyond the purely academic sphere.
During the 12-day programme, participants in the International Summer School undertook intensive training in three key areas: pharmaceuticals, natural medicines and clinical pharmacy. The students were granted unique access to the State Key Laboratory, studied the university’s extensive herbarium collections and conducted research at the Medicinal Plant Botanical Garden.
The programme placed particular emphasis on practical skills:
- At the South Campus, students learnt about modern technologies for the production of pharmaceutical dosage forms and undertook safety training.
- As part of the course on the chemistry of natural compounds, participants independently carried out the extraction and separation of components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and practised chromatography techniques.
- The clinical module included sessions in a simulated pharmacy at Jinqiu Hospital, where students practised the rational use of medicines.
The programme extended beyond the university lecture theatres: students visited leading pharmaceutical companies in Benxi, where they gained an insight into the full cycle of medicine production. In addition to their professional development, participants explored the rich heritage of Shenyang – the ‘capital of two emperors’. They visited the Shenyang Imperial Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Zhang Xueliang Residence and the famous Benxi Water Cave.
The final stage was the presentation of group projects, during which the students shared their experiences of an international educational environment. On the twelfth day of the programme, a formal closing ceremony was held, at which each participant was awarded an official certificate of completion. The programme marked an important step in strengthening international academic ties and enabled students to immerse themselves in the research environment of one of China’s oldest specialist universities, founded in 1931.
Participation in the SPU summer school enabled future Kazakhstani pharmacists to learn from the best practices of the ‘Cradle of Chinese Pharmaceutical Talent’ and lay the foundations for further international cooperation.
