Dr. Lalji Baldaniya is the Professor and Principal at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Marwadi University, Rajkot. He has 15 years of teaching and 13 years of research experience at UG and PG levels respectively. His area of research is the QbD based formulation and development of novel drug delivery systems, dissolution testing, PKPD study, 3D Printing technology, etc. He has published more than 30 research papers in journals of national and international repute. He is the recipient of the prestigious award from IPA (Indian Pharmaceutical Association) ACG: SciTech Innovation in Solid dosage form development.

Marwadi University

How did you train yourself to deliver this program to the students?

“Having 15 years experience in the field has given me an immense amount of insight” 

Due to the versatility of pharmacy, it requires a leader of similar qualities. Training in industrial, academic, and research fields has been my experience. I have a Ph.D. with Pharmaceutics specialization and have worked on formulation development projects and guided 25 students at the Master level and also guiding Ph.D. research projects. As an academician, I have 15 years of experience giving me immense exposure to the field and understanding how students need to be trained to compete in the world.

What are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

“Our goal is to provide a conducive and student-centric academic environment”

The Faculty of Pharmacy at Marwadi University is committed to providing quality education through well-trained, competent and dedicated faculty. We have a state-of-the-art infrastructure and globally accepted pedagogical techniques. We are actively working towards providing opportunities for active and interactive learning to the students. Thereby helping them in expanding their knowledge, cultivating research abilities and necessary skills to create a positive impact on the healthcare and pharma profession. 

How do you strategize the curriculum and how often it gets updated?

“Our pharmacy curriculum is governed by the Pharmacy Council of India and we have been following it since 2017”

A wide range of subjects are covered under the new curriculum, with the 7th semester devoted to mandatory practice school subjects and the 8th semester to research project work. The practice school and research project work is the major change incorporated in the new pharmacy curriculum. In practice school, students are required to undergo training in any department of the pharmaceutical company, drug laboratory, hospital pharmacy, and other healthcare settings. The intention behind the inclusion of practice schools in the curriculum is to enhance students’ knowledge and technical skills required for various pharma jobs. 

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What are the best practices that you are offering in your department?

“Preparing students for the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) and blended learning”

Currently, the Pharmacy Faculty uses blended learning strategies and flipped classrooms to teach. Throughout the semester, we also conduct rubric exams as formative assessments. MCQs, assignments, presentations, and carry-home/open book exams would be included in such exams. The later assessment types are intended to develop higher-order thinking among the students. We also prepare students for the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) for which a dedicated online group is created and students are given practice questions. In addition, the placement cell of Marwadi University prepares B. Pharm. students for placement interviews, multiple mock rounds of interviews, etiquettes, etc.

With the hands-on nature of pharmacy, how are you preparing the students to be industry-ready?

“We intensely focus on knowledge and skill development among students”

We conduct regular industrial visits to well established pharmaceutical companies to help students understand the way in which their theoretical knowledge will be used practically. Keeping in mind the industry readiness and increasing the scope of employability of our students, we’ve already signed an MoU with LSSSDC (Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council). It is a not for profit, non-statutory Certification body under the mandate of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India. We enrol our final year B.Pharm. students to undergo skill development training. 

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What are the benefits and career options after pursuing Pharmacy at Marwadi University?

“Opportunities in the manufacturing, QA, and QC departments or a CRO organization”

A Pharmacy graduate from Marwadi University has wide career options available to choose from. 

  • Graduates can pursue higher studies like a master degree and a Ph.D. degree in the subject of their choice. 
  • Students can choose to work in the manufacturing, QA, QC departments of a pharma company. 
  • There is also a scope of employment in CRO (clinical research organisation). 
  • They can also work as a pharmacist in a hospital pharmacy or retail pharmacy, opportunities in Govt. jobs for the posts like a junior pharmacist in PHC/CHC/District/Civil hospital and lab technician in a forensic science laboratory.
  • Other job opportunities in the government sector like Drug inspector, Drug testing laboratories, Drug regulatory affairs, Public services, etc. 
  • They can have their own start-ups or can be entrepreneurs. 

What are the interventions you bring in apart from the curriculum to train the students?

“MoU with LSSSDC (Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council), to make students industry-ready”

The Faculty of Pharmacy, Marwadi University is committed to bringing the best out of students by facilitating optimum learning and subsequent skills development. Having realized the industry's need for skills, we took concrete steps to make students industry-ready and increase the ambit of their employability after graduation. We signed an MoU with LSSSDC (Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council), to make students industry-ready and increase the ambit of their employability after graduation.