UNIVERSITY of Bradfordschool of Life Sciencesbradford School of Pharmacyprogramme/Course

UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORDSchool of Life SciencesBradford School of PharmacyProgramme/course title:BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Management

Introduction

The BSc in Pharmaceutical Management degree at the University of Bradford is a unique and innovative course that combines the study of pharmaceutical sciences and business and management studies. No other BSc course exists in the UK with this combination of subjects. The scientific element explores a theoretical approach to drug design, biological action and pharmaceutical formulation; two-thirds of the course is devoted to the study of science modules. You will gain a broad understanding of pharmaceutical science related to drug design, drug action or drug delivery. This leads to an appreciation of the procedures needed for clinical trials, licensing and regulation. Management modules occupy the remaining one-third of your time, and cover the economic, resource and marketing aspects of, for example, launching new drugs and products, together with an understanding of drug regulations and quality assurance. You will also develop important communication, team-work, time management and leadership skills.

There re two intakes per year (April and November) and it runs in full- and part-time mode. The course normally lasts three – three and a half years. However, students may be able to spend a year between the second and final years in a relevant placement in, for example, a pharmaceutical multinational in the Far East. The course is managed by Bradford School of Pharmacy although the degree is franchised to the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) where the course is delivered,in English, as a core syllabus.

The aims and outcome statements have been referenced to the QAAHE benchmarking statements for Pharmacy (P) and General Business & Management (B&M) and the University of Bradford’s Teaching and Learning strategy (T&L).

Graduates from the degree programme will be well prepared to enter employment in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, both of which are extremely buoyant and constitute major employers in Singapore. The skills and knowledge gained during the programme will enable graduates to embark on scientific and/or managerial careers within these industries.

Programme Aims

The programme is intended to:

A1provide opportunities for you to develop a comprehensive knowledge (with areas of specialisation in depth) and understanding of the action and uses of medicines or substances used in and design and manufacture of medicines, with a significant knowledge and understanding (with areas of specialisation in depth) of the key areas of business and management; (P, B&M, T&L)

A2progressively integrate the scientific pathways with the management pathway so that the action and uses of drugs or design and manufacture of medicines can be applied to the business of the international pharmaceutical industry particularly in relation to the finance, marketing and regulation of pharmaceutical development of new drugs;

A3foster an enthusiastic interest in and enhance your learning through contact with teachers active in research (T&L);

A4foster an appreciation of research method (P, B&M);

A5develop your ability to think critically and creatively (P, B&M, T&L);

A6provides a supportive educational environment, which meets the needs of students from a variety of educational, ethnic and geographical backgrounds (T&L);

A7produce graduates who fulfil the needs of employers (T&L);

A8enable you to become an autonomous learner and prepare you for life-long learning (P, B&M, T&L);

A9equip you with the subject, academic and key skills necessary to facilitate transition to employment or further study (T&L).

Programme Learning Outcomes

When you have completed the programme you will be able to:

LO1Critically analyse and evaluate the principles and concepts associated with the actions and uses of medicines or substances used in the design and manufacture of medicines and key areas of business and management; apply these principles to the identification and resolution of pharmaceutical, business and management problems (P, B&M, T&L).

LO2Write scientific reports and demonstrate practical laboratory skills (P).

LO3Critically analyse, manipulate and draw conclusions from data collected from the laboratory, case study or scientific published work (P, B&M).

LO4Design and complete a substantial piece of independent study (T&L).

LO5Demonstrate a critical awareness of research and scientific method, through the ability to critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative methodology, hypothesis formulation, selection and application of appropriate methodologies and statistical tests and report the findings and conclusions of laboratory work/a research project in the form of a report/dissertation (P, B&M, T&L).

LO6Demonstrate critical thinking through ability to identify and analyse problemsand formulate possible solutions (P, B&M, T&L).

LO7Demonstrate an evidence-based approach to decision-making and problem-solving, through ability to: identify, analyse, interpret and apply the best available evidence (P, B&M).

LO8Demonstrate key skills in the areas of communication in the form of written and oral communication, information technology and team working (P, B&M, T&L).

Curriculum

From the outset and following discussions with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry in Singapore, the course has been designed to meet the needs of employers. A result of these negotiations is that a waiver is in place for the removal of optionality in the curriculum, thus each stage comprises 120 credits from core modules. All modules delivered at MDIS are offered on-campus either as core or optional modules. The curriculum table below lists all the modules taught as part of the programme; a total of 120 credits will be studied at each stage as single (10 credit) or double (20 credit) modules.

Stage 1 provides a good foundation in pharmaceutical science (7 modules) and general management principles (4 modules) plus 1 module of key skills. In Stages 2 and 3, you will follow increasingly focused pathways in both pharmaceutical science and management, studying modules which maintain the overall balance of approximately 2:1 pharmaceutical science: management respectively. In Stage 3, the disciplines of pharmaceutical science and management are integrated in such modules as drug regulations and quality assurance, project management in pharmaceutical development and clinical data management. A complementary series of key skills modulesare offered throughout which provide skills vital for successful employment. In Stage 1, the communication skills module will develop your IT skills, oral and written communication and ability to work as part of a team. In Stage 2, the statistics module introduces the concepts of statistics and science writing skills necessary for the research to be undertaken in the dissertation in Stage 3. In Stage 3, the substantial dissertation develops skills of critical appraisal and independent thinking (see curriculum table).

You can undertake the full-time (3 year duration) or the part-time (3.5 year duration) course of study.

If you successfully complete Stage 1 of the BSc in Biomedical Sciences delivered at MDIS, you may join Stage 2 of the course as a direct entry 2nd year student when you will be able to apply for the importation of 120 credits at stage 1. You will study a mixture of science and management modules (see table below).If you hold a three-year full time Diploma in Biotechnology, Medical Technology or Biomedical Sciences or equivalent qualification, you may enter directly into the accelerated stage 2. You will be able to apply for the importation of 120 credits at stage 1 and 40 credit APL transfer at stage 2. You will also study a mixture of science and management modules (see table below). In both the direct entry and accelerated entry programmes, in stage 3 you will study core level 3 pharmaceutical science modules along with management modules.

The structures of the different pathways are outlined in Appendix 1.

The curriculum may change, subject to the University's course approval, monitoring and review procedures, as

improvements are made each year. More detail, including learning outcomes, is available for each unit.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

1 Modules taken by ALL direct entry stage 2 students.

2 Additional modules taken by direct entry stage 2 non-accelerated route students

3ALL direct entry stage 2 students substitute MSO for WCO in stage 3.

The curriculum may change, subject to the University's course approval, monitoring and review procedures.

Teaching and Assessment Strategies

The programme articulates with the Teaching and Learning strategy of the University.

A wide variety of teaching methods appropriate to the learning outcomes of the individual modules are employed throughout the programme. They progressively focus on student-centred approaches to learning, thus you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your learning as you progress through the course. In this way you will develop the attributes needed for life-long learning and continued professional development.

Outcomes LO1 to LO5 will be developed in a number of modules, through a mix of lectures, seminars, laboratory practicals, workshops, case studies, CAL and directed study. Directed study will involve you in a variety of activities, which include directed reading of selected textbooks and specified source literature, directed Web-based materials, report writing and other assignments. In addition individual project/dissertation work will help you develop outcomes LO4 and LO5.

You will demonstrate your achievement of outcomes LO1 to LO5 via written closed-book examinations using constructed- (essays, short answers) and selected response (MCQ) questions and a variety of written assignments.

The development of outcomes LO6 and LO7 will be through involvement in small-group, workshops, project-based and case-based work and assessed by written examination, written reports and assignments, project report, dissertation, case analysis and critique, and presentations.

Key skills are embedded throughout the curriculum with most modules developing at least one of the skills specified in outcome LO8.

Assessment Regulations

This Programme conforms to the standard University Assessment Regulations which are available at the following link: .

Admission Requirements

The University welcomes applications from all potential students regardless of their previous academic experience; offers are made following detailed consideration of each individual application including proficiency in English language. Most important in the decision to offer a place is our assessment of a candidate’s potential to benefit from their studies and of their ability to succeed on this particular programme. Entrance requirements for each programme will vary but consideration of your application will be based on a combination of your formal academic qualifications and other relevant experience.

If you have prior certificated learning or professional experience which may be equivalent to parts of this programme, the University has procedures to evaluate this learning in order to provide you with exemptions from specified modules contained within the curriculum. Please talk to us if you do not fit the standard pattern of entry qualifications. Provided specific entry criteria are met, it may be possible for you to enter the programme via the accelerated Stage 2 pathway.

Successful completion of the Foundation Certificate in Biomedical Sciences (delivered by MDIS and validated by the University of Bradford) is accepted for entry onto the programme.

The University of Bradford has always welcomed applications from disabled students, and these will be considered on the same academic grounds as are applied to all applicants. If you have some form of disability you may wish to contact the programme leader before you apply.

The remaining sections relate to on-campus student support in all its aspects; an outline of how this is aligned at MDIS is described in the boxed section below:

At MDIS you will have access to staff in the Student Services Unit who will be able to refer pastoral and academic issues to the staff. Visiting staff from the University of Bradford will meet you 6 times per year to review progress and will both induct and peer observe teaching staff to assess the quality of delivery of the course. You will have access to the library resources at the MDIS UniCampus as well as appropriate access to computer facilities.

Students will be allocated a University of Bradford email address and will be registered on Blackboard to enable distance learning to take place as it is embraced by the School of Life Sciences. The course co-ordinator from the University of Bradford will meet with representatives of the student body at least 4 times per year and you will be supported in all aspects of your course by University and student handbooks and by module study guides.

Learning Resources

The JB Priestley Library on the city campus and our specialist libraries in the School of Health and the School of Management provide a wide range of printed and electronic resources to support your studies. We offer quiet study space if you want to work on your own, and group study areas for the times when you need to discuss work with fellow students. Subject librarians for each School provide training sessions and individual guidance in finding the information you need for your assignment, and will help you organise your references properly.

Student PC clusters can be found in all our libraries and elsewhere on the campus. Many of these are open 24/7. You can also use the University's wireless network to access the internet from your own laptop. Most of our online journals are available on the internet (both on and off campus), and you can also access your University email account, personal information and course-related materials this way.

Staff are on hand during the daytime to help you if you get stuck, and there is a 24/7 IT helpline available.

Student Support and Guidance

Course Team

Support for you personally and in your course of study, will be provided both by the University and the Course Team. You will be allocated a personal tutor who is someone with whom you will be able to talk about any academic or personal concerns. The School will ensure that there is someone available with whom you feel comfortable to help and support you. You will be provided with a comprehensive series of handbooks that you can consult on a range of learning issues and your course tutors will be available to consult on subject specific queries.

Students’ Union

We value the feedback provided by students and collaborate with the Students’ Union, through a system of course representatives and formal staff student liaison committees, so that any issues you wish to raise are addressed rapidly.

The Students’ Union and the University of Bradford work in partnership to provide confidential counselling and welfare services where you can get help with any aspect of your personal or academic life. Student Financial and Information Services (based in the Hub) will provide you with information about a diverse range of issues such as council tax, personal safety and tourist information. International Students can access a range of additional advice and support services through the Student’s Union.

Careers and Employability

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career Development Services including help to find part time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the web site

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops. These may take place as early as year 1, or may be achieved through a customised Career and Personal Development module in year 2 or 3 which is developed in close cooperation with the academic department. An annual First Destination Survey leads to compilation of a report on the outcomes of all programmes and to the development of an annually updated Traffic Light Analysis of Employability which is used as a performance indicator.

The specific provision on this programme is provided ina module delivered in Stage 2. The module ‘Career and Personal Development’ further develops the key communication skills introduced in Stage 1 (Communication Skills module) and provides candidates with the specific skills and knowledge that they will need in order to be successful when seeking employment.