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PORTLAND, Maine

UNE College of Pharmacy hosts students from Spain as UNE students return as part of academic exchange with University of Granada

University of New England's College of Pharmacy is hosting five students from the University of Granada in Spain from July 2-28, 2013 on the Portland campus.

Meanwhile, eight UNE College of Pharmacy students have returned from UNE's successful inaugural academic exchange program with the University of Granada (UG) in Spain. The exchange follows an agreement signed in 2012 to foster academic and research opportunities between the two universities.

The students from Spain are taking a class on UNE's Portland Campus, along with UNE pharmacy students, called "Perspectives and Organization of the U.S. Health Care System‚" co-directed by UNE faculty members Karen Houseknecht and Leslie Ochs. The course will include experiential trips, such as job shadowing in local hospitals and pharmacies.

Houseknecht says, "This is a true study abroad experience, where the students will learn a tremendous amount from each other and their host countries - from the role of a pharmacist in Spain and the U.S., to how economic austerity policies affect health care policy and patient well-being.  We believe the perspectives they gain will make them more culturally-competent healthcare providers."

UNE Vice President for Global Affairs Anouar Majid, Ph.D., says, "I am delighted to see the first implementation of the agreement we signed last year being executed this summer. With the support of UNE College of Pharmacy Dean Gayle Brazeau, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Karen Houseknecht, Ph.D., has put together an exciting and culturally intensive inaugural exchange program. Our Global Education Program worked with Karen and the Business Office to facilitate the process; we also awarded $4,300 in scholarships to eight participating students. I hope this will be the first step in a more multifaceted partnership between UNE and the University of Granada. Besides such student exchanges, we are exploring possibilities for research collaboration and even dual degrees."

UNE Students' Exchange in Spain

The eight UNE College of Pharmacy students traveled to the University of Granada in Spain in May for one of the first Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations of their fourth year. After a two-week Spanish language and Spanish cultural immersion course, the UNE students studied European health care systems, alongside University of Granada students.

University of Granada

The University of Granada, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, has over 80,000 students and many strong programs aligned with those at UNE, such as pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, and social work.

The University of New England is an innovative health sciences university grounded in the liberal arts, with two distinctive coastal Maine campuses and unique study abroad opportunities. UNE has internationally recognized scholars in the sciences, health, medicine and humanities, and offers more than 40 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.