International subject olympiad on the educational program «Pharmacy»
On May 29-30, 2025, the School of Pharmacy of the Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov in Kazakhstan, the first International Subject Olympiad in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Toxicological Chemistry, and Pharmacognosy (educational program “Pharmacy”) was held, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov.
Forty participants (eight teams) representing five universities took part in the Olympiad: Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute (TPI), Republic of Uzbekistan; Alfaranus University (Republic of Uzbekistan); Karaganda Medical University (KMU), Kazakhstan-Russian Medical University (KRMU), Republic of Kazakhstan; Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, Republic of Kazakhstan.
The jury consisted of nine experts from universities in two countries. The jury chairman was Amir A. Azembayev, director of the Scientific Center for Anti-Infective Drugs.
The purpose of the subject Olympiad was to improve the quality of student education and establish friendly ties between universities in different countries.
The main objectives of the event were
— to popularize knowledge of pharmaceutical chemistry, toxicological chemistry, and pharmacognosy among students as the main comprehensive sciences of pharmacy;
— to increase students’ interest in learning, identifying among them the most talented and competitive pharmacists for their future profession;
— developing the cognitive abilities of teaching staff and broadening their horizons in specialized subjects;
— stimulating and motivating students to acquire knowledge within the framework of the “Pharmacy” educational program;
— promoting cooperation between universities in Kazakhstan and other countries.
The administration of the School of Pharmacy of KazNMU named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, represented by the dean, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Z.B. Sakipova, and deputy deans A.M. Aynakulo and J.J. Zhumatay.
The organizers of the competition, department heads A.K. Boshkaeva (Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry) and G.M. Sayakova (Department of Pharmacognosy with a course in botany), who noted the importance of the first international subject Olympiad on the most important pharmaceutical disciplines.
To participate in all the competition tasks of the Olympiad, each university presented at least one team from medical and pharmaceutical universities (each team consisted of 5 students) to participate in all the competition tasks of the Olympiad.
The subject Olympiad was held in 3 rounds:
Stage I – presentation of teams (video clip no longer than 5 minutes);
Stage II – testing in the disciplines of “Pharmaceutical Chemistry,” “Toxicological Chemistry,” and “Pharmacognosy”;
Stage III – solving situational problems (several problems for each subject).
Results of the international competition in pharmaceutical chemistry, toxicological chemistry, and pharmacognosy:
— Grand Prix: Team “Oduvanchik,” S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (Republic of Kazakhstan);
— 1st place: team “Alfraganus Farm,” Alfraganus University (Republic of Uzbekistan);
— 1st place: team “Analytik,” S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (Republic of Kazakhstan);
-2nd place: team “Toxic, but Accurate,” Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute (Republic of Uzbekistan);
— 2nd place: team “KARfarm,” Karaganda Medical University (Republic of Kazakhstan);
— 3rd place: team “Pharmageddon,” Kazakh-Russian Medical University (Republic of Kazakhstan);
— 3rd place: team “Alchemist,” Kazakh-Russian Medical University (Republic of Kazakhstan);
— 3rd place: team “PHARMI UZ”, Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute (Republic of Uzbekistan).
Winners in the subject Olympiad nominations:
— “Best Team in Pharmaceutical Chemistry”: Alfraganus Farm team, Alfraganus University (Republic of Uzbekistan);
— “Best Team in Toxicological Chemistry”: Toxic, but Accurate team, Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute (Republic of Uzbekistan);
— “Best Team in Pharmacognosy”: the “Dandelion” team, S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (Republic of Kazakhstan);
— “Creative Video”: the “Alfraganus Farm” team, Alfraganus University (Republic of Uzbekistan).
The members of the teams that participated in the international subject Olympiad on the educational program “Pharmacy” would like to thank the leadership of KazNMU named after S.D. Asfendiyarov KazNMU, Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute, Alfraganus University, KMU, and KRMU for their advice and preparation for the Olympiad.
Students and jury members express their gratitude to the organizing committee of the Olympiad, the management, and the teaching staff of the School of Pharmacy of KazNMU named after S.D. Asfendiyarov for the excellent organization of the Olympiad and the warm welcome.
