This programme will give you all the technical and job hunting skills you need to take your first step in a pharma career. You’ll be ready to start applying for jobs after 10 weeks.

We deliver the program online through one centralized platform (Moodle) where you can log into your classroom. There you can get assignments and interact with faculty. Each week, you’ll complete a series of videos, quizzes, interactive activities, and projects through our online platform, available to access 24/7.

You’ll have a dedicated course leader who will email or telephone you if it looks like you’re starting to fall behind.

Please note: There are NO ZOOM classes or webinars!

Module 1 – Manufacturing Safe Medicines (6 weeks)

In this module, you’ll learn about the systems used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. You’ll learn about the rules and regulations that need to be followed. And you’ll learn enough technical information to get you talking to employers. You’ll spend 4 weeks learning new technical content and then 2 weeks writing your assignment (but don’t worry, we’ve got a professional writing skills programme to guide you through the assignment writing process and equip you with the written communication skills you need for starting in the industry).

• Introduction –  to pharmaceutical, (bio)pharmaceutical manufacturing in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) regulated environment, quality systems vs regulation vs validation
• Industry regulations and guidelines –  including, FDA GMPs for the United States, EMA GMPs for Europen Union, ICH, and PICs GMP regulation
• FDA medical device rules – medical device regulations & guidelines
• GMPs vs ISO 9001:2015 – what’s the difference and why we use both
• Process validation and documentation –  design and verification of manufacturing systems
• Key manufacturing technologies  – such as organic chemical synthesis, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, tablet manufacturing and aseptic & sterile manufacturing
• Supporting technologies  – such as purified water generation, storage & distribution, clean steam, water for injection, storage and distribution
• Introduction to Quality Risk Management (QRM)  – and the importance of risk management and the basic steps involved in its application
• Professional Writing Skills Program – This will guide you through the assignment writing process and equip you with the written communication skills you need for working in the industry

Module 2 – Job Hunting Skills (4 weeks)

This is the job hunting bit. In this module, you’ll navigate your way, step by step, through the job hunting process for the pharma industry. By the end of it, you’ll know which jobs you’d be perfect for, where to find them, and how to make applications to give yourself the best chance at success.

This will guide you through the assignment writing process and equip you with the written communication skills you need for working in the industry.

• Complete two workshops on Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA)
• Complete four-question booklets (one for every week’s worth of content) which will summarise what you have learnt for the week and ensure you retain and understand the information.
• Complete an end of module 4-5 page assignment to include:
  • The key requirements of a quality management system
  • The cleaning validation sequence and how to determine cleanliness levels
  • The documentation of a complete risk management process in terms of identifying risk, analyzing risk, evaluating risk and controlling risk.
  • The typical equipment and process stages used in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients
  • The generation, storage and distribution of pharmacopeia grade Purified Water (PUW).
  • The common cleanroom configuration and airflow direction that governs personnel and material flows in a biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment

• You’ll have a foundation in how safe medicines and medical devices are made in a regulated GMP environment.
• You’ll be able to participate in root cause analysis projects.
• You’ll have enough technical knowledge and understanding of the quality culture necessary to work in this environment.
• You’ll have the written communications skills to properly write reports and reference and cite source material in a manner that is consistent with the professional norms of this industry.
• You’ll be able to work with professionals in this sector without feeling lost or intimidated by the specialised terms and frameworks used in this sector.