International Subject Olympiad in “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Pharmacognosy” for Students of the Educational Program “Pharmacy”

Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University invites you to take part in the International Subject Olympiad (hereinafter – the Olympiad) in the academic disciplines “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Pharmacognosy.”

The purpose of the Olympiad is to popularize knowledge of pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacognosy among students, increase their ability and interest in learning, identify the most talented and competitive pharmacists among them for their future profession, develop their cognitive abilities, and expand their horizons in specialized subjects.

Main objectives:

— improving the quality of education, the scientific potential of students, and establishing friendly relations between universities in the implementation of the Olympiad tasks;

— stimulating and motivating students to master knowledge, abilities, and skills within the framework of the educational program “Pharmacy”;

— promoting the development of social partnership between universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan and countries of the near and far abroad.

The Olympiad is held for 3rd, 4th, and 5th year students in accordance with the educational program “Pharmacy.”

The jury consists of PhD holders, Candidates of Sciences, or Doctors of Sciences in the educational program “Pharmacy”; no more than one representative from each participating university.

The winners in the team competition for I, II, III places are awarded Diplomas. Participants of the Olympiad will receive a Certificate of Participation.

The Olympiad will be held on May 20, 2026, from 9:30 to 17:00.

Format: in-person.

Languages of the Olympiad: Kazakh, Russian.

Each higher educational institution presents at least one team of 5 students from Medical and Pharmaceutical Universities to participate in all competitive tasks of the Olympiad.

The Olympiad is held in 4 rounds.

Round I – team presentation (video clip with a duration of no more than 10 minutes).

Round II – solving situational problems (3 problems for each subject);

Round III – testing in the disciplines “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Pharmacognosy” (80 test questions each);

Round IV – practical skills (in pharmaceutical chemistry and in pharmacognosy).

Organizers of the Olympiad: the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry and the Department of Pharmacognosy with a course of Botany, NJSC “Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University”, School of Pharmacy.

To register student teams and commission members (for the formation of the jury), it is necessary to submit an online application by 30.04.2026 according to the attached forms Appendix 1, Appendix 2 (responsible for receiving applications: Zhanabaykyzy Saltanat +7 705 228 5993 (email: zhangabaykyzy_s@mail.ru; zhanabaikyzy.s@kaznmu.kz), Akzhonas Khamitova +7 702 436 39 52 (email: akzhonas_94@mail.ru).

Appendix 1

Application for Participation of the Student Team
Name of the University |
Name of the Faculty (School) |
Name of the Department |
Name of the Team |
Full name of the Olympiad participants (in full) |
Course (Year of study) |
Specialty |
Full name in English for the certificate |
Full name of the supervisor (academic degree, academic title, position, name of the University) |
Full name of the PhD, Candidate or Doctor of Sciences (for the jury) |
Student contact phone number, E-mail, WhatsApp or Telegram |
Supervisor contact phone number, E-mail, WhatsApp or Telegram |

Appendix 2

Application for Participation of Commission Members (for the formation of the jury)
Name of the University |
Name of the Faculty (School) |
Name of the Department |
Full name of the commission member |
Position |
Contact phone number of the commission member, E-mail, WhatsApp or Telegram |

The list of topics for preparation for the Olympiad in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy is presented in Appendix 3.

The list of practical skills: Appendix 4.

This event will contribute to the development of training competitive specialists for the pharmaceutical industry and the development of international cooperation between universities of different countries.

Address of the Organizing Committee:

050012, Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Bogenbai-Batyra Street 151, NJSC “S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University.”

Contact information:

Zhanabaykyzy Saltanat +7 705 228 5993 (E-mail: zhangabaykyzy_s@mail.ru; zhanabaikyzy.s@kaznmu.kz)

Khamitova A.E. +7 702 436 3952 (E-mail: akzhonas_94@mail.ru )

Target Group: | Students of 3rd, 4th, and 5th year in the specialty “Pharmacy”
Academic Disciplines: | Disciplines: “Pharmaceutical Chemistry”, “Pharmacognosy”

Assessment Format:

Knowledge assessment in disciplines (testing): 80 test questions (MCQ, Type A)
Duration: 100 minutes (without a break)
Passing threshold for test tasks: 75% (60 points)
Passing threshold for practical skills: 75% (60 points)

Appendix 3

List of Topics for Preparation for the Olympiad:

PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

№ | Names of Sections and Subsections | Number of Test Questions
1. | Inorganic Medicinal Substances: Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Periodic Table of Elements by D.I. Mendeleev | 10
2. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Halogen derivatives of alkanes; alcohols; aldehydes and their derivatives | 6
3. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Carboxylic acids and their salts; esters; aliphatic amino acids | 6
4. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Carbohydrates; derivatives of polyoxycarbonic and polyaminopolycarbonic acids | 5
5. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Phenols and their derivatives; naphthoquinone derivatives; tetracycline antibiotics and their semi-synthetic analogues | 6
6. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Aromatic acids and their salts; phenolic acid derivatives; para-aminophenol derivatives | 5
7. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Meta-aminophenol derivatives; derivatives of phenylacetic and phenylpropionic acids | 5
8. | Organic Medicinal Substances: Arylalkylamines, hydroxyphenylalkylamines and their derivatives; iodinated derivatives of arylaliphatic and aromatic amino acids; amidated derivatives of benzenesulfonic acids | 5
9. | Heterocyclic Compounds: Furan derivatives; 1,2- and 1,4-benzopyran derivatives; pyrrolidine derivatives | 5
10. | Heterocyclic Compounds: Indole derivatives; pyrazole derivatives; imidazole and triazole derivatives | 5
11. | Heterocyclic Compounds: Pyridine derivatives | 6
12. | Heterocyclic Compounds: Tropane derivatives | 6
13. | Heterocyclic Compounds: Fluoroquinolines; isoquinoline derivatives | 5
14. | Radiopharmaceutical Preparations | 5
| Total | 80

PHARMACOGNOSY

№ | Names of Sections and Subsections | Number of Test Questions
1. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing polysaccharides | 6
2. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing alkaloids | 10
3. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing cardiac glycosides | 6
4. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing vitamins | 5
5. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing flavonoids | 6
6. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing essential oils | 5
7. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing lipids | 5
8. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing phenolic compounds | 5
9. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing coumarins | 5
10. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing bitter substances (iridoids) | 5
11. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing saponins | 6
12. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing anthracene derivatives | 6
13. | Medicinal plants and herbal raw materials containing tannins | 5
14. | Herbal raw materials of animal origin | 5
| Total | 80

Appendix 4
List of Practical Skills:

PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

№ | Names of Sections and Subsections | Number of Skills
1. | Quality control of medicines for in-pharmacy preparation | 1
2. | Identification and quantitative determination of medicinal substances | 1
3. | Purity testing of medicinal products | 1
4. | Standardization of medicines according to the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan | 1
5. | Preparation of standard solutions and determination of their titer | 1

PHARMACOGNOSY

№ | Names of Sections and Subsections | Number of Skills
1. | Identification by external features (leaves, roots, flowers) of herbal raw materials (HRM) | 1
2. | Qualitative detection of biologically active substances (polysaccharides, essential oils, vitamins, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, anthracene derivatives, tannins) | 1
3. | Determination of the quality of HRM | 1
4. | Macroscopic analysis of HRM | 1
5. | Microscopic analysis of HRM | 1

Запись International Subject Olympiad in “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Pharmacognosy” for Students of the Educational Program “Pharmacy” впервые опубликована на KazNMU News.