Designing and implementing an inquiry-based undergraduate curriculum in pharmaceutical sciences

Abstract

To fulfill the requirements of the work field for creative, innovative, pharmaceutical scientists the Science Faculty of Utrecht University, The Netherlands, has designed and implemented a new bachelor program: The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences. A deliberate choice was made for a didactic approach of research-based, inquiry-based education in an authentic context throughout the whole curriculum. To further improve motivation of learning of students, autonomy and scaffolding were introduced. The first results show that the curriculum is successfully implemented and experienced positive by the students and teachers.