Stackable Credentials to Strengthen the Pipeline to Biopharma

The Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) at North Carolina Central University provides industry with skilled scientists prepared day-one to pursue careers in biopharmaceutical sciences and management. This workforce develo

Project status

100% Completed

Industry Need

The biotech sector requires highly skilled and credentialed workers for various technical positions. Ideally those employees would be ready on day 1 to work, i.e. trained to perform the job and already trained on the equipment that they would need to use at their work place. Additionally, incumbent workers often require further training or updates to their skill sets. Further, the industry is dynamic with market shifts leading to requirements for new, or potentially retooled workers with different skill sets. While on-the-job training will always be an essential tool for developing the workforce, there is a need for innovative approaches to prepare students for work in an industrial environment and to provide education and training in new and innovative manufacturing techniques in biopharmaceuticals.

Solution

The solution is to improve both the quantity and quality of the available workforce pool for the biotech

sector in the Raleigh/Durham area and eventually the state of North Carolina through

Reducing the time for new hires to reach productivity targets, thereby decreasing the internal training costs of employers
Increasing the job placement rate for trained graduates
Providing the biotech sector with partner institutions where their employees can update and refresh their skills and potentially “retool” as the market shifts i.e. moves from one production area to another
Developing programs to attract minorities and other underrepresented populations to biomanufacturing-related careers.

Outputs/Deliverables

OUTPUTS

This project developed and strengthened partnerships between the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC and Alamance, Durham Tech, Forsyth Tech, and Vance-Granville Community Colleges
Revised and updated 3 articulation agreements with partner CCs, 2 more in progress, including 1 with a new partner, Central Carolina Community College
Worked with NCCU Distance Ed and Blackboard consultants to transition 12 courses to online format.
4 online certificates developed and approved – 1 to go live Fall 2021
Developed and implemented an externship program for community college students to undertake lab-based skills training at BRITE. Externs were provided a travel stipend and the extern lab with supplies funding
8 community college students completed externships at BRITE
Program to be expanded – e.g. 2 students from Central Carolina CC to undertake externships Summer/Fall 2021
The externship program helped create a pipeline of students now interested in the Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program

Impacts

The Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) aims to create complimentary stackable credentials to prepare students in the North Carolina Community College Consortium for jobs in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Certifications that will be developed include: Big Data Science for Biopharma, Project Management for Biopharma, Regulatory Sciences, Manufacturing Sciences and Good Laboratory Practice.