IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELECTIVE COURSE “DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH SKILLS ” FOR THE TRAINING OF PART-TIME STUDENTS: EXPERIENCE AND OUTCOMES

Abstract

Abstract. The article presents an analysis of the implementation of the elective discipline “Development of Research Skills” for part-time students enrolled in the “Pharmacy” educational program at the second (master’s) level of higher education at Bogomolets National Medical University. Given the limited in-class time, the course was aimed at developing basic skills in research activities, academic writing, referencing and adherence to the principles of academic integrity. The paper examines the organizational and instructional features of the course, taking into account the specifics of part-time learning, which requires a significant amount of independent work and calls for adaptive teaching approaches. Practical classes were based on active learning methods, particularly elements of problem-based learning, case studies and small-group discussions. This approach enabled an effective integration of theoretical knowledge with its practical application in simulated situations related to students’ own research projects. The analysis of learning outcomes showed that over 90% of students successfully acquired the core skills and competencies. However, the need for additional support in academic writing, structuring scientific texts and referencing was identified. The conclusion highlights the effectiveness of the elective discipline “Development of Research Skills” as an important component of the formation of research competence of future master’s-level pharmacy students. Promising areas for further research are proposed, including tracking the development of research skills throughout the educational trajectory, development and implementation of additional modules in research training, development of tools for students’ self-assessment and monitoring of research competence levels.