With a combination of culture and learning, the path to becoming a trained Pharmacy Technician has been made clearer by NZMA.
NZMA has recently opened a new level 5 Pharmacy Technician course in regional centre, Hamilton, New Zealand. The course is based on the same successful programme that has been run in Auckland and Christchurch for many years.
All tutors on the courses are registered pharmacists. The current group have a vast array of experience to draw on, which lends to a teaching style based on adult learning theory. Classroom activities involve lectures and discussions followed by problem-centred approaches to learning.
The course is 60 academic weeks in duration, which involves a combination of classroom based activities and workplace experience. NZMA, on most occasions, place the students in pharmacies that are convenient to or chosen by them. The Hamilton pharmacies have provided excellent mentoring environments for the students and NZMA will be looking for more workplaces as the course numbers increase with a new student intake in July 2018.
NZMA delivers the latest skills, the most industry-relevant qualifications and the very best employment support. With a 17-year history of reputable pharmacy partnerships, resulting in a strong history of graduate sustainable employment in the pharmacy industry, students choosing this programme will be well placed on their career path.
The Hamilton course tutor Gerallt Jones, is looking forward to teaching this new course in Hamilton. Already, the first cohort is progressing very well, as the relatively small class size lends itself to a collaborative learning environment.
Gerallt says, “I’m really impressed with the academic and social support our students gain on campus. We have a wide range of cultures in the class which benefits all. We have New Zealanders helping international students, and international students sharing their culture with New Zealanders.”
He continues, “Recently one of our students brought us beautiful gifts from her Chinese homeland, including a wonderful Chinese paper-cutting scroll, an art form that dates back to the second century. Our entire class felt honoured with such a gesture.”
The class is also fortunate to have support in tikanga Māori from a neighbouring class who lead a daily karakia, waiata and mōteatea. Gerallt added, “The presence of other courses and students on campus has a hugely positive impact on learning delivery. Students are viewed as guests who each respect that everyone deserves a quality and enjoyable learning experience on campus.”
NZMA Hamilton campus is certainly a hive of activity as 2018 begins, and the students and staff are looking forward to a very productive year ahead.
