Globally, the role of pharmacists is changing to a more patient centred, and biotechnological oriented role not covered by most of the current study programmes. There is a need for specialisation and, especially in Latin America (LA) according to the reports of many professional and academic associations. COPHELA aims to develop and pilot implementation of a COPHELA M.Sc. in pharmacy that by increasing specialisation and research in hospital, community and industrial pharmacy foster the development of pharmacy in LA in conjunction with EU.COPHELA M.Sc. will develop innovative course units with two main characteristics: 1. a competence-based learning framework that fits in well with the highly heterogeneous regulations of the pharmacy profession in the Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, etc. and thus can be of general application and use in LA; 2. using distance learning technology to avoid the excessive cost of the traditional specialisation courses that limit access to many LA pharmacists. The materials generated will be freely available. COPHELA will also develop quality assurance tools to facilitate the recognition of the courses. This M.Sc. development will therefore also be the starting point for the development of post-registration continuous professional development and for the validation of learning in universities all around the world and in the work place.The short-term impact will be the production of pharmacy specialists adapted to the modern LA and EU situation. The long-term impact will be a global improvement of LA healthcare with more efficient pharmaceutical care and the evolution of the LA pharmaceutical industry.The impact for the EU will be improvement in collaboration with LA in the fields of pharmacy education, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. The tools and teaching material developed will be used to promote continuing professional development for EU pharmacists.