Date: 22 - 23 January 2026

Location: NH Brussels Grand Place Arenberg, Brussels, Belgium

The PharmTech Mobility Project reached an important milestone with its final in-person transnational meeting, held in Brussels, Belgium. This event marked the culmination of months of collaboration and shared learning among project partners from Ireland, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal.

Day 1 – Final Dissemination Event 

The first day of the event focused on disseminating project outcomes to a wide range of stakeholders, with over 70 attendees from across Europe participating. The day began with presentations from the PharmTech Mobility project team, providing an overview of the project and its key findings:

• Dr Tao Zhang (TU Dublin, Ireland), Project Lead, introduced the project, outlining its background, aims, and objectives.

• Dr Tao Zhang and Dr Angelo Miguel Cardoso Jesus (EAPT, Belgium) presented the key findings from Chapter 1: Comparative Educational Curriculum, highlighting similarities and differences in pharmacy technician education across partner countries.

• Dr Seána Hogan (TU Dublin, Ireland), demonstrated the key findings on the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians across community, hospital, and cross-setting environments.

• Isabel Elguero Claramunt (Formación Profesional Colegio Tres Olivos, Spain) delivered the team's findings on professional and transferable skills for pharmacy technicians, emphasising the skills necessary for effective practice and career development across diverse settings.

The session included a Q&A moderated by Prof Christine O’Connor (TU Dublin), who facilitated audience engagement and discussion, encouraging questions and reflections from attendees and project team members. This interactive session enabled rich dialogue on the project findings and their implications for pharmacy technician education and practice.

Following the project team presentations, the session featured talks by esteemed external experts in pharmacy technician education and professional practice:

• Dr Catriona Bradley, Executive Director, Irish Institute of Pharmacy (Ireland) 

Title: "Navigating Change: Building the Future of Pharmacy Technicians Together"

• Dr Cristiano Matos, President, European Association of Pharmacy Technicians (Belgium)

Title: “Pharmacy Technicians in Europe: Exploring the Diversity in Training, Roles, and Regulation"

• Dr Miguel Figueira, Former President, Portuguese Association of Pharmacy Technicians (Portugal)

Title: "Pharmacy Technician 2040: A Strategic Outlook on Educational Transformation and Professional Evolution"

The second session concluded with a Q&A moderated by Dr Gemma Kinsella (TU Dublin, Ireland), facilitating insightful discussions among the invited speakers, project team members, and audience. This session highlighted diverse perspectives, deepened understanding of professional challenges, and fostered exchange of best practices across European contexts.

A key area of discussion was the diverse regulatory landscape for pharmacy technicians across European countries and its implications for professional practice. Participants highlighted that in some countries, statutory recognition and formal regulation of pharmacy technicians are well established, supporting clear career progression pathways, while in others, such regulation is limited or absent.

This variability directly impacts the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians, including the extent of clinical engagement, decision-making autonomy, and opportunities for professional development. Attendees emphasised that harmonising regulations and recognising pharmacy technicians at a statutory level across Europe is crucial to enable mobility, ensure consistent standards of care, and support career advancement within the profession.

The day also provided a platform for exchanging insights, sharing best practices, and strengthening networks among educators, professional bodies, and policy stakeholders, underlining the importance of cross-border collaboration in shaping the future of pharmacy technician education and practice.

Day 2 – Project Reflection and Future Directions

The second day was dedicated to reflecting on the overall project journey, reviewing key processes and deliverables, and discussing future directions for collaboration, mobility, and pharmacy technician education across Europe. This session also marked the project’s final in-person meeting ahead of its formal closure, an important milestone in the successful completion of the initiative.

Project partners took the opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and expertise of all team members, whose contributions were central to the success of PharmTech Mobility. The event also highlighted the support provided by the European Commission and Léargas, whose funding and guidance made this Erasmus+ initiative possible.

This two-day event was hosted by the European Association of Pharmacy Technicians (EAPT), whose hospitality and support were vital in the success of the event. Conducting the meeting at the EU headquarters further highlighted the collaborative and transnational nature of this Erasmus+ project, providing a fitting location to celebrate the achievements of the partnership.

Looking Ahead

As the project moves towards formal closure, the PharmTech Mobility team remains committed to building on the strong partnerships and outcomes achieved throughout the initiative. The insights and frameworks developed through the project aim to create a lasting impact on pharmacy technician education and mobility across Europe, supporting harmonisation of training standards and professional recognition.

The project’s final report and outputs will continue to serve as a valuable reference for educators, practitioners, and stakeholders, ensuring the project’s legacy endures beyond its formal conclusion.