Written By: Dominique Jordan
February 8, 2021
Almost a year ago, on 11 February 2020, before the pandemic changed all our lives, FIP launched its Women in Science and Education (FIPWiSE) initiative. It was born out of discussions among a small group of female leaders from around the globe at the FIP World Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2019 where stories of inspiration, aspiration and exasperation were shared. The launch date, 11 February, was very much symbolic as it coincided with the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
On 11 February 2021, FIPWiSE is celebrating its first anniversary. Stay tuned for FIPWiSE words from FIPWiSE women to celebrate our anniversary and engage with us through social media!
The FIPWiSE initiative aims to engage, empower and enable women in pharmacy education and pharmaceutical science to achieve their ambitions and to attract young women and students to these fields. It aligns with FIP’s commitment to equality and equity, and underpins FIP Development Goal 10.
Throughout 2020, we launched multiple platforms to give a voice to women, to understand the barriers they face, and to highlight issues we could address through FIPWiSE. Our platforms included:
“FIPWiSE Words” series of blogs and videos These showcase the breadth and depth of female talent in pharmaceutical science and education.
FIPWiSE Leadership Lab, in collaboration with the United Nations Populations Fund Gender Programme Leaders across the globe discussed their routes to leadership and the skills/attributes which helped them get, and thrive, there.
Digital event — COVID-19: Women front and centre It is safe to say that the pandemic has only made issues worse for women, amplifying the gender imbalance through increased caring responsibilities, and reducing access to funding and roles. At this digital event women in pharmacy from all sectors and career levels shared their challenges due to COVID-19 with the aim of finding collective solutions.
FIP Young Pharmacists’ Group Mentorship programme FIPWiSE members were overwhelmed by the demand for the YPG mentorship programme, and it is sure to grow in 2021 and beyond.
Deeds not words
Based on all the stories we have heard and conversations we have had in 2020, we have defined three key focus areas and corresponding activities for FIP WiSE in 2021 and beyond. These are:
1. Confidence in competence
Provide an online leadership skills development programme to navigate COVID-19 challenges;
Continue the mentoring programme to enable and instil confidence; and
Launch an “FIPWiSE and Fearless podcast” and continue the FIPWiSE words video series to share stories and experiences.
2. Enabling workplaces
Launch the ‘’Enabling workplace environments in education & science’’ toolkit;
Call on employers to build more flexible and empathetic workplaces for women in science and education; and
Remove barriers in the workplace and build a culture of diversity by design, to ultimately provide an environment in which women can succeed and flourish.
3. Supporting young women in pharmacy and pharmaceutical science
Identify the needs of young women professionals and students to provide futureproof solutions such as awards or bursaries; and
Grow the mentoring programme.
Success is never a solo sport
I want to thank all the wonderful women and men who have helped us achieve so much in such a short time. The vast majority of the praise must go to Nilhan Uzman, FIPWiSE Programme Lead & FIP Lead for Education Policy and Implementation, and Esther Anyango, FIPWiSE Intern, for their drive and delivery of all FIPWiSE activities. They are true #sheroes. We want to use whatever power, platform or privilege we have to engage, enable and empower girls and women to achieve their aspirations, and create a legacy of exceptional female leadership across science and education. If you would like to join the FIPWiSE community, contribute to our working groups or activities, please contact us at Education@fip.org
https://www.fip.org/activities-priorityareas-equityrx
#EquityRx #Equality #FIPWiSE
About the author: Professor Claire Thompson is FIPWiSE chair