‘GCP strived hard to impart quality pharmacy education’

Tell us about GCP’s journey so far. What are the courses you offer?

Dr S Shashidhara

The institution was started in 1963 by KN Shanbogue, the then drugs controller general of Karnataka. This marked the initiation of pharmacy education in the state. The institution started working as an impetus for various private pharmacy institutions to come in the state. Throughout its journey of 50 years, GCP strived hard to impart quality pharmacy education, without compromising the ethics of the profession. The faculty, non- teaching staff and the student’s fraternity have put up continuous efforts in upholding the pharmacy education in particular and pharmacy profession in general in the state. The alumni of GCP are now at the helm of the affairs in various facets of pharma profession and contributing in evolving pharmacy profession. Now GCP is the brand name, which has secured a place within the 25 best institutions in the country. The college offers courses like D Pharm, B Pharm, M Pharm (in four specialisations) and PhD programmes.

What agenda have you set for GCP’s golden jubilee celebration? Also, tell us about the venue?

The golden jubilee celebrations have been planned keeping in mind the following agenda”

1. To develop interaction between the alumni and present students so as to evolve a strong professional guidance platform
2. To develop alumni network
3. To discuss present day challenges of pharmacists
4. To come out with effective strategies to convert challenges into opportunities through focused discussions and interactive sessions
5. To discuss about challenging technologies with moving times for students and alumni to update information
6. To install golden jubilee scholarships, provide research assistance to students of our college.

The two-day event will be organised in NIMHANS convention centre and provisions have been made for the alumni to visit the campus during these two days. Golden jubilee lecture series will be organised in the campus.

GCP’s slogan states Suvarna Sambhrama. Can you elaborate more on this concept?

Suvarna means gold and Sambhrama means celebrations and hence this title has been given. Actually the slogan states “GCP: Glorious 50 years in shaping the talented pharmacy professionals.” This slogan is self-explanatory. Throughout the year, attempts will be made to create a common platform for the alumni and budding pharmacists and to bridge the gap. There will be sessions for alumni and present students to reminisce their golden memories, exchange of professional ideas, technical knowledge, etc.

GCP also plans to honour college faculties and invited drug controllers for the event.

In case of GCP, the untiring and selfless efforts of the former principals and teachers is immense and it is just a token of respect and gratitude that we would like to show to the mentors of this institution. Even many alumni are eager to honour their revered teachers to express gratitude.

What are the programmes planned for motivating the existing students?

Scientific sessions have been planned and the speakers have been told to motivate our existing students. A session has been scheduled to bridge the generation gap of alumni and existing students. In addition, year-long lecture series have been designed to inspire and motivate our students and to expose them to the latest trends in the profession.

Can you share some success stories of the college?

There are several success stories of the institution and also of our alumni, to mention a few: The institution is the brand name in the field of pharmacy education in the state. In PG CET exams conducted by RGUHS, six to eight of first 10 ranks are bagged by our students and students choose our institution as the matter of first choice. Today, the institution is in first 25 best colleges list.

When it comes to the success stories of our alumni: Professor SK Kulkarni was raised to the level pro-chancellor of Punjab University. Professor Srikant Murthy also the pro-chancellor of Drexel University, US; Prof B Suresh, Vice-chancellor of JSS University, Mysore and President of Pharmacy Council of India. Dr Jagashetty B R is the present Drugs Controller and Raghuram Bhandari is the present additional drugs controller.

In addition several former drugs controllers from the state of Karnataka namely, Anand Rajshekhar, Premanand Shetty, Ram Murthy, Sripathy Rao, etc were all our alumni. Further, Dr SK Kulkarni, Dr B Suresh were the presidents of Indian Pharmaceutical Association. Many have become entrepreneurs, in top positions in the pharma industries, etc.

Dr Bharatesh Jagashetty is holding the drug controller position in Karnataka. Would you like to comment on his academia and professional career?

Dr BR Jagashetty is our distinguished alumni, having studied B Pharm. and M Pharm from our institution. His zeal in attaining the higher education and enhancing the understanding of conceptual aspects of profession made him to pursue his higher studies, while in very responsible position in drugs control department. He has degrees M Pharm, LLB and PhD. in Law. All these speak volumes about his penchant desire for learning. He was awarded with best drugs controller officer in India.

Besides Jagashetty, how many people have achieved success like him?

There are many such alumni success stories in India and abroad. These people have carved niche for themselves and also for the institution. Therefore, proudly we call all our alumni as our “Brand Ambassadors”.

How do experts (Ex-students) of the college help in the growth of the college and helping enrolling students?

They are our brand ambassadors. Regularly our alumni visit the college, deliver scientific lectures, help in imparting new techniques and assist in research activities. It is noteworthy to mention that the American Association of GCP Alumni is sponsoring PG research projects for our M Pharm students. The association has instituted STAR awards for the achievers in the field of pharmacy education and research. Our alumni are acting like live link between the modern trends in the field and the college students.

What are your responsibilities and how are you managing it?

Heading a government institution is different. It has a major advantage of being independent and not bound by pressure of improving the financial resources as observed in many of the private institutions. However, it has a few disadvantages of not being independent with respect to utilisation funds and facing difficulties at different levels for introduction and development of new schemes and management of human resources.

True challenges are here. Accomplishment of success in good performance with constant motivation, overcoming the difficulties and convincing all other concerned to improve academic, infrastructural and development are some of the important challenges.

Whats your message for the academy and industry?

Though it is a feeling of many that facilities and governance in government institutions will not be up to the mark, GCP has shown that conduct of examination for all diploma colleges in Karnataka and also in our college has been outstanding. The performance of our students in post graduate entrance examination conducted by the University has been remarkable and also the performance of students in diploma examinations has been excellent. Overall it is a feeling in academia, industry and research departments that GCP is brand name for indication of standard in pharmacy education.

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