 Biotechnology training for the future
A Massey team led by Professor Yusuf Chisti will steer the first
national programme aimed at upskilling industry in
biotechnology.
Funding for the pilot programme was announced
at the Palmerston North campus by Research, Science and Technology
Minister, Pete Hodgson.
The Minister says the biotechnology
pilot is an excellent example of government, the tertiary education
sector and industry working together to foster innovation and
enterprise in a very important part of our economy. “Massey
University’s team will work directly with industry to identify and
provide specialist training with the specific objective of
strengthening the capabilities of our biotechnology
sector.”
Through the pilot, the University will raise the
in-house capability of biotechnology firms by providing high-level,
enterprise-specific, modular workshops. Content will be developed in
consultation with industry and will be focused in four areas:
biotechnology science, processing, regulatory compliance and
business.
“We have already proven that New Zealanders are
world beaters in biotechnology. This initiative will help
consolidate and grow that position,” says Mr Hodgson. “This pilot
also underlines the quality and value of our tertiary education
providers, not only in biotechnology but to the wider community and
our economy.”
Professor Chisti regards the investment in
biotechnology skills as in line with the Government’s identification
of economic growth areas of the future. “The consequent rapid
enhancement of core skills in target industries is expected to
enhance New Zealand’s ability to compete globally in sectors such as
human and animal health, bioactives, pharmaceuticals,
nutraceuticals, and diagnostics.
“The biotechnology-focused
training modules that will be developed through this initiative are
expected to eventually become self-financing, to provide on-going
training in key emerging technologies. The project will further
develop capacity within the University to better address the needs
of an extremely high-technology industry sector that is experience
rapid growth worldwide.”
Professor Chisti is a
world-renowned expert in biochemical engineering with international
experience in biotechnology manufacturing, research and education.
The project will also involve Professors Ian Maddox and Richard
Archer of the Institute of Technology and Engineering; Professor
Barry Scott and Associate Professor Bernd Rehm of the Institute of
Molecular Biosciences; Associate Professor Alan Murray of the
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences; and Dr
Gavin Clark of Research Services.
The pilot is part of the
Government’s Growth and Innovation Framework, funded through the
Tertiary Education Commission’s contestable funding initiative, to
promote closer collaborations between tertiary education
organisations and industry.
Created: 12 July, 2004 |
