King’s College London and Brac University Launch Collaborative Online Pharmaceutical Learning Program

Nearly 350 students from King’s College London and Brac University participated in a new Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program designed to enhance cross-cultural engagement and expand understanding of the global pharmaceutical industry.

The initiative, developed through a partnership between King’s School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Brac University, offered two extracurricular self-study courses that explored key aspects of drug development, regulation, and approval. The program aimed to provide students with insights into the processes that ensure medicines are safe, effective and accessible worldwide.

One course, The Pre-Clinical and Clinical Stages of Drug Development and Drug Approval Process, was designed by Professor Miraz Rahman of King’s College London with support from the King’s Global Engagement Partnership Fund. The course featured contributions from pharmaceutical industry experts and examined the journey of medicines from early discovery through preclinical research, clinical trials and regulatory approval.

Second course, Development and Regulation of Generic Drugs, was developed by Brac University and introduced students to the practical aspects of generic drug development, regulatory requirements and global approval pathways.

Month-long program concluded with two virtual workshops where students worked in small international teams to address real-world drug development scenarios. Supported by academic staff and PhD student facilitators, participants analyzed complex case studies, shared diverse perspectives, and presented their solutions to peers.

Reflecting on the experience, Master of Pharmacy student Sahara Sohail highlighted the value of the collaborative case-study sessions, noting that the program provided an opportunity to learn from different viewpoints while strengthening both subject knowledge and teamwork skills.

Dave Dowland registrar at Brac University, described the initiative as a valuable opportunity for students to engage with critical issues in drug development and governance while collaborating across continents.

Miraz Rahman head of the Department of Drug Discovery and COIL lead at King’s, emphasized the project’s role in expanding access to knowledge and creating meaningful international learning opportunities. He noted that the collaboration enables students from different regions to learn from one another and participate in a more inclusive global educational experience.

The program was delivered through King’s Edge, the university-wide extracurricular learning initiative that supports innovative and globally connected educational experiences. Professor Mark Peace, Academic Director of King’s Edge, praised the project as an example of how international partnerships can provide students with unique industry insights and collaborative learning opportunities.

Following the success of the initiative, both institutions are exploring further collaborations and additional COIL projects with international partners, reinforcing their commitment to global engagement and innovative education.

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