Preparation of communicative-adapted specialists

In the Republic of Kazakhstan concept of education development is directed to qualitative renewal of forms and methods of professional training corresponding qualifying global standards. Much attention is paid to multilingual education, which is regarded as an effective instrument of preparing the younger generation to the vital activity in an interconnected and interdependent world. 

President N.A. Nazarbayev has set high bar before the domestic education. It must become a competitive, high-quality, so that Kazakhstan graduates could easily continue their studies at foreign universities, and in their professional activities - promote international cooperation, both in the academic and in the industrial sector.

Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry became first in the Academy who teaches students of the Pharmaceutical Faculty in English since the beginning of 2011-2012 academic year.

Today, three undergraduate disciplines – “General methods of drug analysis”, “Pharmaceutical Chemistry”, “Drugs standardization and metrology”, as well as a master discipline – “Modern physical and chemical methods of analysis in pharmacy” is taught in English.

In order to teach in English teachers had to prepare educational-methodical complexes of disciplines, ranging from study programs, ending complexes of test tasks for the final control of students' knowledge.

The main condition for such work is not only a high level of knowledge of the language, but also the presence of qualified specialists in the profile. So, senior teachers E.K. Orynbassarov - Master of Pharmacy, V.A. Korotkov - PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, graduated SKSPhA with honour, however fluent in English, work at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry.

The open lesson for “Drugs standardization and metrology” was planned at the beginning of the academic year for among 5-year students and coincided with a visit to our Academy of E.A. Birtanov, MHSD RK Vice-Minister. Guest familiarized with educational-methodical, research, international activities and logistics of department.

In a conversation with students E.A. Birtanov noted that the most important strategic objective of education is providing graduates qualifying international qualities. In this respect, knowledge of foreign languages is one of the basic conditions of prospective increase of the graduates’ professional competencies. Students were interested in E.A. Birtanov’s personal example who talked about his learning outcomes in the world's leading universities - the Medical University Charité (Germany), Duke University (USA).

Laboratory lesson was conducted with the use of one of the active teaching methods “Team-based learning” (TBL). All the criteria and characteristics of TBL were used in class. In particular, teacher conducted the preliminary test of psychological compatibility of students among themselves to work in a team. Each team worked on the officinal analysis of the drug in accordance with regulations.

The results of the team's laboratory work students reported in the form of the presentation about where they justified the results, answered the questions, were engaged in discussion. Knowledge, expertise and skills of students in the field of quality of drugs control were evaluated individually and in the team competition.

Besides, the TBL helps effectively to assimilate the material, here students learn to express their own opinions, to take another point of view, to work in a team and for the team, to be communicative and active.

In addition to the teaching of basic and specialized disciplines in English, the Department also conducts the manufacturing practice with English-speaking students in foreign partner universities. So, groups of students repeatedly went to an internship at the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno (Czech Republic). Undoubtedly, it is a great incentive for students, where they can apply the knowledge of a foreign language in practice and in the future - it is easy to adapt communicatively to any environment and expand their opportunities in the professional activity.