New pharmacy schools by ’11

Upon passing the final stage of evaluations conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, 15 local universities will open pharmaceutical colleges next year.

The addition will bring the number of pharmaceutical schools in the country to 35 by 2011.

The ministry has also increased the maximum combined number of students allowed at pharmaceutical schools to 1,700, up from the present 1,210. This is the first time since 1982 that the student capacity for the schools has been allowed to increase. The new schools will be allowed to enroll up to 20 to 25 students each.

The ministry announced yesterday that 15 schools out of 19 that passed the first stage of screening earlier this month passed the second stage of their evaluation.

The chosen schools were selected for having active research teams and facilities that have produced notable pharmaceutical experts in the past.

The Gyeonggi area had the highest number of schools that passed: Catholic University of Korea, Dongguk University, Ajou University, Cha University and Hanyang University.

By Cho Jae-eun [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]