The American University in Cairo (AUC) and Minapharm Pharmaceuticals have formed a partnership to establish what AUC describes as the first African academy for biotechnology. The initiative, which begins early this year, aims to strengthen education, research and innovation across Egypt, the Middle East and Africa and to close a persistent gap between academic programmes and industry requirements.
AUC and Minapharm will exchange expertise through joint workshops, collaborative research projects, conferences and lectures from specialists in both academia and industry. Andreas Kakarougkas, director of AUC’s graduate biotechnology programme, said the work focuses on hands-on skills in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, quality control and regulatory compliance so graduates are ready for industrial work.
Training will start with postgraduate biotechnology students and could later include engineering and business administration. AUC will handle academic supervision and curriculum development, while Minapharm will co-develop courses, deliver specialised training and host trainees at its facilities. One early result will be an entrepreneurship course for Master of Biotechnology and MBA students, starting early this year.
Difficult words
- partnership — an agreement to work together between organizations
- academy — a place for advanced study and professional training
- biotechnology — the use of living systems to make new products
- initiative — a new plan or project to improve something
- collaborative — involving two or more people or organizations
- regulatory compliance — following official rules and legal requirements
- curriculum — the subjects and courses taught in a program
- entrepreneurship — starting and managing a new business venture
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might an academy for biotechnology help students in Egypt and Africa?
- What advantages can students gain from industry specialists giving lectures?
- Do you think an entrepreneurship course is useful for biotechnology students? Why or why not?
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