Business in the Biosciences 4Y option BIOL4298

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Biodiversity One Health Vet Med
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

A degree in the Biosciences provides graduates with skills and knowledge relevant to their discipline, but this acquired knowledge and skill set can be applied to contexts outside of an academic university setting. During this course, students will gain experience in Business, Enterprise, and Event Management, related to multiple areas within different bioscience industries. This will be achieved through discussions and active practical sessions centred on all aspects of running an effective business in the biosciences, including project management, event delivery and understanding relevant regulatory frameworks. This course is open to students across all degree groups in Life Sciences.

 

Timetable

All day Monday to Friday in teaching weeks 0 and 1 

 

This course can be taken as an alternative to the 10-week option course on Fridays in Semester 1.

Requirements of Entry

Normally, only available to final-year MVLS Life Sciences students. As manual enrolment is required, students must apply in advance for a place on this course. Please contact Anna.McGregor@glasgow.ac.uk or Laura.McCaughey@glasgow.ac.uk before 1st August to register your interest.

Visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the MVLS Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The course will be assessed by an in-course assessment consisting of 4 components: a business plan (20%), a sales presentation (20%), reflections on event management and intensive period (40%) and a report on Intellectual Property (20%).

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

This course aims to develop an understanding of the factors involved in commercialising bioscience knowledge and research. During the course, students will: 

■ Develop an appreciation of how creativity and innovation can influence the development of sound business proposals

■ Develop key transferable skills and graduate attributes, particularly those related to teamwork, communication skills and creativity

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Create a business plan detailing the commercialisation of a new bioscience product or service;

■ Discuss ethical issues relating to the bioscience industry;

■ Illustrate the importance of protecting Intellectual Property;

■ Design, execute and evaluate an event that is relevant to business in the biosciences;

■ Give clear, well-constructed individual and group oral presentations.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.