Presentation of certificates and festive farewell ceremony for candidates
On 24 May 2022, the farewell ceremony for pharmacists after passing the second pharmaceutical examination, which has become a good tradition in Münster for many years, took place in a festive setting - and finally in presence again. How long had the students and members of the university waited to meet again in the context of an academic ceremony, to discuss, to celebrate. Before the academic celebration, they met for the obligatory group photo in front of the PharmaCampus. Interesting to note that this took place next to a newly planted ginkgo tree donated by the pharmacy student council in memory of the Corona period.
The large lecture hall of the PharmaCampus proved to be largely full, confirming the trend that has been going on for years that this day is a very special occasion for pharmacists in Münster, celebrated in grand style together with family and friends.
Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel, chairman of the examination board, welcomed all candidates and guests on behalf of the WWU and pointed out the good graduation record of Münster's pharmacy. Even the difficult situation during the pandemic had not diminished this trend, as both the lecturers and the students worked together very constructively and pragmatically. During the opening ceremony, Hensel also emphasised what actually constitutes an academic study: not pure factual knowledge, but the critical, independent and also self-responsible handling of facts. A university degree does not have to enable pharmacists to know and be able to do everything on their first day in the profession - no degree course in the world can guarantee this - but graduates equipped with basic knowledge, methodological competence, personal motivation to perform and creativity should be able to perfectly master everyday life in the pharmaceutical environment independently and based on scientific facts - a demanding but worthwhile goal.
The welcoming address by the Dean of Studies of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Huertas, confirmed the efficiency, dynamism and quality in pharmaceutical education in Münster that has been observed for many years. The Dean of Studies clearly emphasised the scientific orientation of the pharmacy degree programme and urged the graduates to always think and act scientifically in their future professional environment and to be eager for new knowledge.
Within the framework of the ceremonial lecture "Corona and Statistics - On Dealing with Numbers in Everyday Life and in Science", Professor Dr. Jan Anderson (Analytical Chemistry of the WWU Münster) showed how incorrect derivations and information can be derived from numbers, what significance (pretended) accuracy can have in the press and how representations can steer opinions in certain directions - in times of fake-news, a lecture that let many alleged facts appear in a new light and stimulated reflection.
The board member of the Westphalia-Lippe Chamber of Pharmacists, Ms Eva-Maria Gödde, then conveyed the Chamber's greetings, congratulated all the graduates and showed what opportunities the Chamber - "from now on your Chamber" - will offer the prospective pharmacists.
The preliminary highlight then was the presentation of two study prizes from the Apothekerstiftung Westfalen-Lippe to Michelle Düttmann and Mr Fabian Franz Wilhelm Mengede for outstanding performance in the second section of the pharmaceutical examination (1.0).
In an emotional graduation speech, the students, represented by Ms Belinda Schumann, reviewed the studies they had completed, describing in particular the predominantly digital Corona period from the students' point of view like travelling in the mist. Locked in lock-down, few contacts, digital teaching, reduced laboratory practicals - with all the discussion in the area of infection control, it must also be considered what effects this had on a whole generation of young people studying!
For some years now, it has been a good custom at the WWU Münster to also present the prizes of the "Verspohl Foundation" during the presentation of certificates. This foundation, which resulted from the initiative of the long-standing university professor for pharmacology Prof. Dr. E. Verspohl and his wife, awards prizes to students who, among other things, have shown good academic performance and are committed to their studies. The selection is made by an independent board of trustees of the foundation under the proven leadership of Prof. Dr. Klaus Langer (head of the Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology) and an independent committee of the WWU. The students Ms Paula Hegener and Ms Ronida Al Khaled (Verspohl Study Scholarships) and Ms Bente Straatmann (participation in the ProTalent Germany Scholarship of the WWU Münster) were awarded by the donors.
The highlight of the ceremony was of course the presentation of the certificates by Prof. Hensel to the candidates. The festive academic act ended with a standing reception, followed by a festive and long night at the gala dinner in an appropriate atmosphere. Congratulations to all successful graduates.
Prof. Dr. A. Hensel, University of Münster
