Publishing date: 22 September 2026 Immagine notizia Immagine Paragrafo The first class of the University of Insubria’s new single-cycle Master’s degree programme in Pharmacy took place today, Tuesday 22 September, in classroom VA2 at the Science Campus in Via Valleggio, Como, with 47 students attending.Welcoming the new class were the Deputy Rector of the University of Insubria, Umberto Piarulli, the Director of the Department of Science and High Technology, Michela Prest, and the programme coordinator, Professor Simona Galli, who greeted the students and introduced the educational path that will accompany them over the next five years.Also present were Professor Luca Nardo, who delivered the programme’s first lecture, and researchers Orlando Santoro and Nicolò Baranzini. Professors Tiziana Rubino and Marina Protasoni, both members of the programme’s teaching staff, also joined remotely from Varese.«It is an exciting moment for us too as we begin this new adventure,» said Deputy Rector Umberto Piarulli. «We designed the programme by listening to the needs of the local area, pharmacies and the pharmaceutical industry, with the aim of offering an innovative and valuable educational path. I hope the students will approach it with three essential qualities: passion, commitment and dialogue. We will do our best to stand by them and support them, including through the difficulties they will inevitably encounter along the way.»«Creating this programme was a completely new and highly engaging experience for me,» said Professor Michela Prest. «Working on its design gave me the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the world of pharmacy and the many professional roles connected with it, from community pharmacies to industry, communication and research. Above all, I want the students to know that the Department is here for them: we are ready to listen and support them throughout their university journey.»Professor Simona Galli instead focused on the transition from school to university: «Study methods change considerably and require autonomy, organisation and responsibility in managing one’s time. It is important to study consistently from the very first semester and to make use of all the tools provided by the University. Lecturers and tutors are available to clarify doubts and help address any difficulties: dialogue with students will be a fundamental part of the programme.» Immagine The programme belongs to degree class LM-13 “Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy”, is open admission and has a duration of five years. The qualification grants eligibility to practise as a pharmacist in accordance with Interministerial Decree No. 635/2022. The programme was jointly designed by the Department of Science and High Technology, headed by Michela Prest, and the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, headed by Flavia Marinelli.The main location is the Como Science Campus, where lectures and practical laboratory activities in chemistry and pharmacology are held. Laboratory activities in the biological sciences will also be organised at the Busto Arsizio University Campus, coordinated by Professor Tiziana Rubino.The programme combines lectures and practical activities and provides expertise in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, toxicology, legislation and professional ethics. Its aim is to train professionals capable of responding to the evolving role of the pharmacist, who is increasingly integrated into the healthcare system and serves as a point of reference for both citizens and healthcare professionals, as well as an expert in medicines.The programme also prepares graduates for career opportunities in pharmaceutical companies, public bodies, research institutes and regulatory authorities, with skills ranging from research and development to production, quality control, the dispensing of medicines and pharmacovigilance.Particular attention is also devoted to applications of artificial intelligence in the management of clinical projects, resource allocation, pharmacovigilance and the development of new medicines, with the aim of providing tools capable of supporting data-driven decision-making.The new programme benefits from qualified teaching staff, laboratories, and national and international scientific collaborations. Sector stakeholders also contributed to its design, including professional associations of pharmacists, Federfarma, representatives of postgraduate schools and PhD programmes, and pharmaceutical companies, which will continue to play an active role in the educational programme.Local pharmacies and pharmacies in neighbouring Switzerland will also be involved, offering students opportunities for internships and direct engagement with professional practice.