Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 15: Father Muller Homoeopathic Pharmaceutical Division (FMHPD), a unit of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, and PA College of Pharmacy, Mangaluru, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 15, with the objective of strengthening academic–industry collaboration, promoting experiential learning, fostering research and innovation, and facilitating professional development in the field of pharmacy.
The MoU signing ceremony was held under the observance of Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions. The agreement was formally signed by Fr Nelson Dheeraj Pais, administrator, Father Muller Homoeopathic Pharmaceutical Division, and Prof Saleemulla Khan, principal, PA College of Pharmacy and professor of Pharmacognosy, representing their respective institutions.
Prof Saleemulla Khan briefed that collaboration is envisioned as a platform for meaningful academic and professional engagement between the two institutions. It seeks to provide students and faculty of PA College of Pharmacy with opportunities for practical exposure to industrial processes and professional practices, while facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives between academia and the pharmaceutical industry.
The proposed collaboration encompasses a range of academic, professional and research-oriented activities based on the mutual interest and convenience of both institutions. These include industrial visits and educational exposure for students; student internships, training and experiential learning opportunities; guest lectures, seminars, workshops and expert interactions; faculty development programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives; collaborative research projects, innovation and consultancy; joint organisation of scientific events, awareness programmes and outreach activities, as well as other academic or professional activities mutually agreed upon by both institutions.
Fr Faustine opined that the partnership expected to provide students with valuable first-hand exposure to the pharmaceutical production environment, complementing classroom-based learning with practical knowledge and industry-oriented skills. It will also create avenues for faculty members to engage in collaborative research, professional development and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The Father Muller Homoeopathic Pharmaceutical Division (FMHPD) is a constituent unit of Father Muller Charitable Institutions and its oldest established in 1890, carrying forward the institution's longstanding commitment to healthcare and service. The division is engaged in the production of homoeopathic medicines and related pharmaceutical preparations, with an emphasis on quality, systematic production practices and service to the community.
The division forms part of the larger legacy of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, whose healthcare mission traces its origins to Fr Augustus Muller SJ, who began his service to the sick and the poor at Kankanady, Mangaluru, in the late 19th century. The institution has since evolved into a multidisciplinary healthcare and educational network, guided by its enduring motto, ‘Heal & Comfort’.
Through the present MoU, FMHPD seeks to contribute to academic development by opening avenues for students and faculty to gain greater insight into pharmaceutical production, professional practices and industry-oriented learning.
PA College of Pharmacy, a constituent institution of the PA Group of Institutions, established under the aegis of the PA Educational Trust, is committed to providing quality pharmacy education through academic excellence, research, innovation, industry interaction and professional development.
The institution places emphasis on preparing students to meet the evolving requirements of the pharmaceutical profession through a combination of academic learning, practical training and professional exposure. The collaboration with Father Muller Homoeopathic Pharmaceutical Division is aimed at further strengthening these opportunities by establishing a structured platform for experiential learning, research, skill development and knowledge exchange.
The MoU will also provide opportunities for the institutions to jointly engage in scientific programmes, research initiatives, awareness activities and outreach programmes, thereby creating a mutually beneficial academic and professional ecosystem.
The signing ceremony was attended by Dr Michael Santhumayor, administrator, Father Muller Medical College; F. George Jeevan Sequeira, administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital; Dr Antony Sylvan D’Souza, dean, Father Muller Medical College; Dr Ramesh Bhat, head of Research, Father Muller Research Centre; Aswathy C, associate professor, Department of Pharmaceutics & IQAC head; and Dr Kelvin Pais, liaison officer, Father Muller Charitable Institutions, along with representatives of the participating institutions.