Building the U.S.-ASEAN Consortium for Pharmacy Education based on the U.S.-Thai Consortium experience: a qualitative study

Background: The U.S.-Thai Consortium for Pharmacy Education is a long-standing collaboration between the U.S. and Thailand that primarily focuses on faculty development. The success of this partnership has contributed to the improvement of pharmacy education and the advancement of pharmacy practice in Thailand. It may also serve as a model for collaborative efforts in pharmacy education and practice across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. This study was designed to explore the views and perceptions on goals, directions, and trends for the new U.S.- ASEAN Consortium for Pharmacy Education. Methods: A qualitative study was used. A focus group with semi-structured questions was conducted with 12 representative faculty members from nine ASEAN countries and the U.S. Verbatim transcriptions were used to perform thematic analysis with investigator triangulation. Results: Four key themes emerged: perceptions, challenges, expectations, and directions. Participants perceived the U.S.-ASEAN Consortium as a strategic networking platform for expanding international collaborations. Challenges were identified at both the institutional and national levels, with curriculum differences, financial constraints, and administrative issues affecting institutions, while cultural and language differences pose further obstacles. At the national level, top-down administrative structures were identified as restrictions. The main expressed benefit of joining the Consortium was enhancement of student experiences, including student exchange programmes. Gaining insights into organisational administration was also perceived as one of the benefits. Participants recognised that a successful collaboration required identifying common interests, setting goals, and proposing strategies, including developing a master plan, harmonising programmes, and establishing a uniform competency framework. Regular meetings and resource-sharing were identified as also essential to maintaining the engagement of Consortium members. Conclusion: The U.S.-ASEAN Consortium was perceived as a platform to increase opportunities to collaboratively connect with other pharmacy schools internationally. The establishment of common interests and strategies was recommended to keep the collaboration moving forward.