Building the U.S.-ASEAN Consortium for Pharmacy Education based on the U.S.-Thai Consortium experience: a qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• International Collaboration
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• The U.S.-Thai Consortium for Pharmacy Education has successfully fostered faculty development, improving pharmacy education and practice in Thailand.
• This partnership serves as a potential model for inter-country collaborations within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore faculty perceptions of goals, directions, and trends for a new U.S.-ASEAN Consortium for Pharmacy Education.
• To identify potential benefits and challenges of international collaboration in pharmacy education.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing focus groups with semi-structured questions.
• Involved 12 faculty members from nine ASEAN countries and the U.S.
• Thematic analysis of verbatim transcriptions with investigator triangulation.

Main Results:

• Participants viewed the U.S.-ASEAN Consortium as a strategic networking platform for international collaborations.
• Identified challenges include institutional (curriculum differences, finances, administration) and national (cultural, language, top-down structures) barriers.
• Key benefits are enhanced student experiences (e.g., exchanges) and insights into organizational administration.

Conclusions:

• The U.S.-ASEAN Consortium is perceived as a valuable platform for international pharmacy school connections.
• Establishing common interests and strategic plans is crucial for the consortium's continued success and forward momentum.