A science degree can lead to a whole host of opportunities, but a new reimagined undergraduate programme from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, developed in conjunction with industry, will produce scientists who are ready and able to maximise those possibilities.
Going far beyond basic science, the new BSc in advanced therapeutic technologies (ATT) focuses on the latest innovations and emerging technologies in the life sciences sector – precision medicine, computational biology, biomanufacturing, data analytics and connected healthcare. The degree layers in a grounding in professional power skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork and project management.
Programme director Professor Judith Harmey, of RCSI’s School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, explains that the thinking behind the programme is to produce “the kind of graduate that employers are looking for”.
Industry collaboration
Before devising this four-year undergraduate degree, Prof Harmey and her colleagues engaged in significant research and engagement with graduate employers on what they were looking for in future employees, as well as the gaps they were observing in current graduates. What they realised was that extensive applied practical experience related to the latest scientific technological developments, valuable communication and project management skills were not typically covered in a basic science undergraduate programme.
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With funding from the Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) Human Capital Initiative, the course has been designed to ultimately produce a skilled talent pool focused on emerging and future pharma technologies and address current and future skills gaps in industry.
The BSc in advanced therapeutic technologies (ATT) deep dives into each step of the drug life cycle process – from discovery and development, to manufacture, regulation and patient use.
To this end, genetics and genomics, precision medicine, and connected health are covered, as are data analytics, computational biology, biostatistics. All students receive dedicated training in biopharma manufacturing methods at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (Nibrt).
A key feature of the programme is the eight-month work placement, which course directors believe will allow graduates to build relationships with industry and secure future employment.
Dr Ben Ryan is deputy head of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences. He says that, given the scale of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry presence in Ireland, producing graduates that meet its future needs is a key priority. “This is a future-focused curriculum taking into account where the pharma and biopharma industries are now, and where they will go in the future,” he says. “We want to create a science innovator, someone who at the end of the degree will be a “connector”, as they will really understand each of the different domains involved in bringing a new drug to the marketplace.”
Students will also learn how emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning are impacting this process and are already being used to great effect in drug discovery. “We are constantly getting vast quantities of data from lots of different data sources,” Dr Ryan says. ”Our graduates will understand how that can be intertwined appropriately, within relevant legal frameworks to deliver real patient benefits. In parallel, students are learning to be effective communicators, collaborators and leaders, all in preparation for the workplace.”
Eight-month work placement
The learnings from the multifaceted programme are crystallised within the eight-month industry placement each student undertakes during year three. These placements are typically within a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical company, but students may also seek placements with start-up companies and the life sciences divisions of consultancy firms. “We are keen to enable a diverse range of placements for our students which reflect the breadth of life science-related commercial activity in Ireland, with our first cohort entering the workforce on placement in January 2025,″ says Dr Ryan.
The work placement is a key driver of the success of the programme, Dr Ryan says. “It allows the students to demonstrate what they have learned through the curriculum and apply it while growing as science innovators in the workplace. It is a relationship that is mutually beneficial, to both the student and the employer. The industry gets value, as it is an excellent way to identify their future talent pool to address the skills gaps they are facing; and it allows the student to establish their own professional networks, which are critically important. We are currently working with numerous industry partners for these third-year placements and welcome further industry engagement to broaden the options available to our students.”
Collaboration is also key within the pharmaceutical industry itself. Dr Ryan points out that, far from working in silos, roles have now expanded and may overlap with a number of different areas. “These students will have a good understanding of the pharma ecosystem and will have usable skills in manufacturing, data analytics and regulatory affairs. This is what industry needs from the next generation of scientists. We are focused on providing these industries located here in Ireland with the type of talent that they need to stay here and expand.”
And industry is keen to support these efforts. Takeda Ireland is sponsoring an advanced therapeutic technologies scholarship to a student who is Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) eligible. The scholarship will offer financial support of €25,000 over the four-year duration of this science degree.
Shane Ryan, the GM of Takeda Ireland, says collaborating with RCSI in the development of courses such as these is an opportunity for the organisation to be proactive when it comes to growing its future talent pipeline and addressing emerging skills gaps.
We are focused on providing these industries located here in Ireland with the type of talent that they need to stay here and expand
“The speed of evolution and adoption of disruptive technology means we, as an industry, have to learn really quickly how to best leverage these advances across our value chain and ultimately to deliver as best we can, for healthcare ecosystems and the patients we serve,” he says. “So, there is a fantastic opportunity for universities to factor some of these newer capabilities into their respective courses and it’s been very constructive to be able to collaborate with RCSI on the content and structure of programmes to help ensure that we are future-proofed in terms of the capability and skills that are, and will be required in our sector.”
Offering the scholarship gives a student, who may not have been able to do so otherwise, the chance to partake in the programme and realise their full potential, Shane Ryan says.
“We are committed to doing what we can to reduce barriers for people to have successful careers in STEM, and we feel this scholarship is a brilliant example of that, supporting the scholar to develop the skills, capabilities and qualifications they need to have a fulfilling career in the science, healthcare and technology industry in Ireland and beyond.”
Prof Harmey agrees that the new BSc is just one way of helping Ireland Inc develop a sustainable talent pipeline. “Our graduates will be scientists, but also workplace ready,” she says. “We are opening the doors to the pharmaceutical industry; our graduates just have to walk through that door.”
To find out more go to rcsi.com. If your organisation would benefit from a highly trained biopharma student intern in 2025 visit www.rcsi.com/attplacement