The Hague • 12 November 2025
A new FIP–UNESCO UNITWIN Centre for Excellence has been launched in the region of the Americas today, marking another important step in advancing pharmacy education, science and professional development worldwide.
Through this joint initiative, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aim to strengthen academic capacity, encourage innovation and foster sustainable collaboration among academic institutions across the region.
Spanning 35 countries and territories, the Americas is a region defined by its diversity, size and educational strength, boasting the largest number of pharmacy schools globally. The establishment of this new centre reflects FIP’s ongoing commitment to support the advancement of pharmaceutical education and sciences regionally through shared expertise and global partnerships.
During a meeting on 3 June 2025, key stakeholders in pharmacy education and science identified several challenges facing pharmacy education in the region, including a disconnect between curricula and real-world practice, limited access to experiential learning, insufficient interprofessional collaboration, a lack of leadership and faculty development programmes, low motivation for curricular innovation, and gaps in continuing professional education.
However, the meeting also highlighted significant opportunities: to modernise curricula in line with evolving healthcare needs, strengthen case-based and experiential learning, foster regional cooperation and resource mobilisation, promote inclusive engagement, and invest in continuous professional development for the pharmacy workforce.
“The region of the Americas offers a rich landscape of experience, diversity and academic strength. Through this Centre, we have the opportunity to align our efforts, bridge gaps between education and practice, and cultivate a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. Our goal is to empower educators, practitioners and students alike to drive lasting improvements in health outcomes across the region,” said Prof. Silvana Nair Leite, co-chair of the FIP-UNESCO UNITWIN Centre for Excellence in the region of the Americas.
The centre’s immediate priorities will be aligned with FIP Development Goals (DG) 1 (academic capacity), DG 9 (continuing professional development strategies) and DG 13 (policy development), reinforcing a shared focus on building strong educational systems, fostering professional growth and developing policies that enable excellence in pharmacy practice.
“This new Centre for Excellence will collaborate closely with regional and national stakeholders, including academic institutions and professional associations, to drive innovation and sustainable impact. By connecting institutions throughout the Americas, we are creating a platform for innovation, leadership and shared learning, one that will help shape a future-ready pharmacy workforce and ensure that education and sciences keep pace with the evolving needs of healthcare systems and communities,” said FIP CEO Dr Catherine Duggan.
Academic institutions interested in becoming part of the FIP–UNESCO UNITWIN Centre for Excellence in the region of the Americas are invited to contact Dr Genuine Desireh (genuine@fip.org). FIP plans to establish centres for excellence in every WHO region.
Notes for editors
More information about the FIP-UNESCO UNITWIN programme is available here.
ABOUT FIP
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacy educators, and is in official relations with the World Health Organization. Through its 160 member organisations, it represents over 5.5 million practitioners and scientists around the world. www.fip.org
PRESS CONTACT
Laila Ghorab
Communications Manager
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
Email laila@fip.org