UNIMES

Professional Undergraduate Degree in Biotechnology Professions

Course objectives

       The rapid development of this sector of activity in the U.K. and the U.S.A. and also in Germany and Switzerland only goes to underline the fact that France is falling behind in this sector. This could affect many activities (human and animal health care, hospitals, foodstuffs, chemistry, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, the environment) which, in the relatively short term, will need personnel with high level skills in biology and its applications combined with understanding of technological interfaces (physics and biology for example), and a certain openness and knowledge of the business world. The increasing pace of new business creation (SMEs, start ups) is a sure sign of promising future career opportunities in this sector. Underlining this is the fact that the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, Industry and Service, and the Prime Minister have designated the sector as a priority sector.
                

Course Description

   Biotechnology is a key element in the future development of the healthcare, foodstuffs, and environment sectors. It has already enabled the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and is the source of creating new products and techniques, which have and will have a considerable impact on our lives. Training young graduates for this wide reaching sector is therefore now a priority. The curriculum integrates a multi-disciplinary approach in close cooperation with the business world (small and large companies). There is no equivalent course to this Biotechnology vocational Undergraduate degree in the southern half of France. The course has been developed in collaboration with lecturers from the Alès-Nîmes Ecole des Mines, Montpellier University, and also leading industrial and academic specialists (a rich pool of which exists in the Nîmes area). Guest speakers include legal experts lecturing on problems related to patents or bioethics, specialist speakers on industrial property, and consultants for the issues relating to business creation and development (Chamber of Commerce, European Business and Innovation Technopole, Nîmes Metropole). One afternoon per week is set aside for company visits or talks by guest lecturers.

Opportunities and/or prospects

 
Current professions and future possibilities:

• Assistant-engineers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetics industries, in the healthcare sector (hospitals, clinics, laboratories), in the foodstuffs sector, and the environment.
• Production, Research and Development, technical sales
• Further studies: possible continuation with a planned Master’s degree in bio-engineering at Nîmes

Entry Requirements

                           
   2nd year of Undergraduate degree, DUT Biology, BTS Biochemistry or Biotechnology or an equivalent diploma (preparatory classes for Grandes Ecoles competitive entry examinations). Selection is based on application form and interview.
                                   

 Skills developed

             
The skills that this vocational degree aim to develop are dually based:

• Scientific and technical skills
• Understanding of the reality and demands of the business world

 Curriculum

Curriculum Biotechnology Professions