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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Postgraduate

Postgraduate Course: Economics and Innovation in the Biotechnology Industry (PGBI11059)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryBiotechnology is the effort to use biological knowledge and processes to feed, clothe, shelter and make money for its practitioners. The economic structures that make money in biotechnology are limited liability joint stock companies. Such companies exploit patenting, intellectual property and production and marketing in different ways.

This new ten credit course will examine successful models, structures and strategies in use in current biotechnological industry. Where business models fail will also be investigated Comparisons between Scotland and Denmark (biotechnology in a largely post-industrial landscape) and Brazil, China and India (biotechnology in rapidly urbanising societies with large agricultural sectors) will be made and analysed.

The teaching objectives of the course are to impart knowledge of how biotechnology has developed into today¿s industry and how biotechnology contributes to the research and development culture of our contemporary economic systems.

The course objectives are to impart an understanding of how biology derived technologies have developed during recent human economic and social evolution and how they are likely to further develop during this century.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed:
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  50
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 76 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Scientific Resume - a formative assignment with feedback only
Essay 1 - worth 40%
Essay 1 re-write (peer marked) worth 10%
Essay 2 - worth 50%
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of current economic landscape of biotechnology and the markets for biotechnology products
  2. Understand the key role of innovation and demonstrate knowledge of the history of biotechnological innovation
  3. Know what management is and how it can direct novel biotechnological development; analyse critically the various models and structures for biotechnological innovation and production
  4. Critically analyse the economic basis of any proposed venture into biotechnology and production for profit
  5. Understand how economics and policy affect innovation in biotechnology and how management directs biotechnology enterprises.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information This course is taught by lectures, class discussions, individual and group presentations, preparation of written analyses in thematic essays and research reports.
KeywordsBIOTECH Ec and Innov
Contacts
Course organiserDr Andrew Free
Tel: (0131 6)50 5338
Email: Andrew.Free@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Andrea Nichol
Tel: (0131 6)50 8643
Email: Andrea.Nichol@ed.ac.uk
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