KazNMU on the international stage: participation in the 2026 conference of the european association of faculties of pharmacy (EAFP)

From 4 to 6 June 2026, the annual conference of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (EAFP) was held at one of Europe’s oldest universities — the University of Tartu, Estonia — bringing together over 200 participants from 28 countries worldwide.

The European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy is at the forefront of the development of pharmaceutical education and pharmacy across various professional fields, including community pharmacy, hospital and clinical pharmacy, industrial pharmacy and pharmaceutical regulation.  The EAFP serves as a platform for its member institutions to be part of change, plan for the future and address challenges, thereby ensuring the maintenance of the high standards achieved in pharmaceutical education and research within faculties of pharmacy. EAFP member countries are part of and play an important role in the activities of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a global organisation representing the interests of pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy educators.

The EAFP holds annual conferences at various universities across Europe, where representatives from the faculties of pharmacy at European universities exchange experiences in pharmaceutical education and research, and analyse innovative approaches, digital technologies and innovations.

The School of Pharmacy at the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University is a member of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (EAFP) and successfully collaborates with the EAFP and the faculties of pharmacy at the universities belonging to this association.

Tartu is a city where science, medicine and culture have been closely intertwined for centuries. The University of Tartu, founded in 1632, is considered one of the leading centres for pharmaceutical education in Northern Europe.

The theme of the 2026 conference is ‘Flexible Pharmacy Curricula: Future-Proofing the Pharmacy Profession’ .

The conference  is dedicated to the flexible and innovative development of curricula, teaching in the age of artificial intelligence, as well as strategies for building the competencies needed for the future and education in sustainable development. Key topics of the conference include:

• Principles of flexible curriculum design and overcoming institutional barriers.
• Integration of digital tools and artificial intelligence into pharmacy education.
• Sustainable development and the use of environmentally-oriented medicine, ensuring a positive impact on society and the environment.
• Europe-wide collaboration to train professionals for the pharmaceutical industry who are ready for future challenges.

The conference addressed topical issues relating to the modernisation of pharmaceutical education, the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into the educational process, the development of a competence-based approach, and the training of professionals who meet the current requirements of the healthcare system and the pharmaceutical industry.

EAFP President Professor Borut Božič (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) delivered a speech at the conference opening, in which he emphasised the importance of international collaboration in the face of global challenges. He noted that it is universities that set the direction for the sustainable development of pharmaceutical education and science, ensuring a link between the academic environment and the real needs of the healthcare system.

The conference brought together lecturers, researchers, students and stakeholders to explore the flexibility of curricula in pharmaceutical education — a concept that ensures that study programmes keep pace with technological advances, societal needs and the challenges of sustainable development.

In addition to the sessions, the conference offered opportunities for networking and social events, creating a vibrant space for exchanging ideas and building partnerships.

S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University was represented at the conference by the Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Dr Zuriadda Bektemirovna Sakipova, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Nargiz Rakhimova, an assistant lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, and winner of the young scientists’ competition at the international forum ‘AnaMed Forum – New Generation 2025’.

The presentation by the Kazakhstani participants aroused great interest among the conference delegates. The Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Professor Z.B. Sakipova, presented the experience of using artificial intelligence. An AI-based pharmacist agent was tested as a tool for the individualised training of pharmacy students, taking into account specific clinical cases under the guidance of a lecturer. It is used exclusively for educational purposes and is not intended for making clinical, regulatory or professional decisions. The final interpretation of the information and assessment of the learning outcomes are carried out by the lecturer.

The project was presented as part of a special discussion forum, where conference participants were able to familiarise themselves with the research findings, ask the authors questions and discuss the prospects for further scientific collaboration.

During the conference, representatives from S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University held numerous productive meetings with conference participants from many European universities, discussing prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation. Many conference delegates showed great interest in Kazakhstan, in pharmaceutical research and pharmaceutical education at Kazakhstan’s largest medical university. Following the meetings, representatives from universities in Scotland (University of Edinburgh), Spain (University of Salamanca), France (National Academy of Pharmacy, Paris), Finland (University of Eastern Finland), the Czech Republic (Masaryk University, Brno), Portugal (University of Coimbra), and Slovenia (University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice).

Cooperation with international organisations is of great importance to the university.  The participation of representatives from the School of Pharmacy at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University in the EAFP-2026 conference strengthens the university’s international standing as an active member of the scientific community. This serves as confirmation of the high standard of domestic pharmaceutical science and the university’s readiness to collaborate on the global stage. Participation in prestigious international conferences facilitates the establishment of contacts and the initiation of cooperation with leading foreign universities. Such events open up new horizons for our students and lecturers, contributing to the development of sustainable academic diplomacy and joint research.

The latest trends in higher pharmaceutical education will be incorporated to enhance the educational programmes at the School of Pharmacy at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazan State Medical University.