GMU-IVPN Student Club Joins Hands with DMU-IVPN Student Club for Organizing a Pharmaceutical Debate Competition
On February 3rd, 2025, the IVPN student clubs from the College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University (GMU) and Dubai Pharmacy College, Dubai Medical University (DMU) successfully hosted a remarkable collaboration, The Great Pharma Debate, an engaging online debate competition designed to challenge and enhance students' critical thinking and debate skills.
The debate featured four teams, each comprising students from both universities, fostering an environment of interinstitutional collaboration and intellectual exchange. Participants engaged in stimulating discussions on globally relevant issues, demonstrating their analytical abilities, public speaking skills, and capacity to present compelling and well-structured arguments.
The competition was structured across three rounds, each addressing pressing social and ethical issues:
- Round 1: Team 1 (Against) vs. Team 3 (For):
“This House Believes That Global Health Equity Can Be Achieved by Prioritising Healthcare for Low Socioeconomic Societies in African Countries, While Addressing Ethical Challenges and the Responsibilities of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Ensuring Equitable Access to Medicines.” - Round 2: Team 2 (Against) vs. Team 4 (For):
“This House Believes That Pharmacists Should Have the Authority to Dispense Pregnancy-Related Medications and Birth Control Over-the-Counter While Ensuring Ethical Care regardless of personal beliefs." - Final Round: The winners of Round 1 and Round 2:
“This House Believes That the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Practice Will Enhance Patient Care and Outcomes, But Raises Significant Ethical, Sustainable and Professional Concerns.”
The 4 judges for the event were: Dr. Ahmad El Ouweini (Founder and Faculty Advisor for GMU-IVPN Student Club), Dr. Yasmein Yaser (Faculty from DMU), Dr. Mariam Alkhateeb (Faculty at Lebanese International University and a past Student Debate Champion in Lebanon), and Dr. Nisreen Mourad (Lead of IVPN-Student Clubs worldwide).
This initiative provided students with a platform to refine their debate techniques, broaden their understanding of real-world challenges, and develop strong teamwork skills in a competitive yet collegial setting. By uniting future professionals from GMU and DPC, The Great Pharma debate reinforced the importance of critical discussions and informed decision-making in tackling global challenges.
Both institutions expressed their commitment to continuing such collaborative initiatives, recognizing their impact in preparing students for future leadership roles. The success of this debate marks a significant step towards fostering academic engagement and professional growth among students.
This online event is phase 1 of the competition. The next phase is going to be held at DMU on April, 2025, where the same teams will come to compete against each other in-person, with different set of debatable, contemporary pharmaceutical topics.
