Diploma in Biotechnology (Medical, Food and Pharmaceutical) (Level 6)

Overview

Technically, Biotechnology (Medical, Food and Pharmaceutical) is the use of biological systems found in organisms or the use of the living organisms themselves to make technological advances and adapt those technologies to various fields. Biotechnology harnesses cellular and bio-molecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet

NIT qualifications in Biotechnology (Medical, food and Pharmaceutical) were designed to meet the industrial revolution 4.0. They are for the industry and are taught, assessed and verified by local and international industry experts. They are career specific and are aimed at ensuring that the NIT students graduate as Vibrant, Skilled, Competent, and Work-prepared Entrepreneurial Technicians, Technologists, and Professionals to handle and confront the changing and demanding job roles within the Biotechnological industry.

Biotechnology (Medical, food and Pharmaceutical) qualifications are for career goal minded individual who would appreciate the career specific and practical fascinating insight of the NIT programs. With a qualification in Biotechnology (Medical, food and Pharmaceutical), you’ll have many career options. What you choose depends on what most interests you.

The qualification level has broader coverage of knowledge and practical skills required for the vocational sector. The qualification has the potential to prepare learners for progression to the Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology (Medical, food and Pharmaceutical) (Level 7).

The qualification level has broader coverage of knowledge and practical skills required for the vocational sector. The qualification has the potential to prepare learners for progression to the Diploma in Biotechnology (Medical, food and Pharmaceutical) (Level 6).

Who is this qualification for?

Biotechnologist (Medical, Food and Pharmaceutical) are critical for the current generation and industry 4.0. Biotechnology (Medical, Food and Pharmaceutical) is a field that revolves around utilizing the biological systems with technology to develop a product or a process.

The sphere of biotechnology includes medical biotechnology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, plant biotechnology, cellular biotechnology, fermentation biotechnology, food biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, and bioinformatics. With about 30% of theoretical learning, there will typically be much more of action, hands-on, practical learning to ensure that you are adequately prepared for biotechnological work when you graduate.

The Diploma in Biotechnologist (Medical, Food and Pharmaceutical) (Level 6) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Biotechnologist (Medical, Food and Pharmaceutical) to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:

Medical Biotechnology

Medical Biotechnology implies the application of biotechnology in the field of healthcare sector. The Healthcare sector is powered by biotechnology companies that always play a major role, be it in developing diagnostic kits, vaccines, biologics, drugs or medical machinery. The domains of biotechnology like molecular biology, cell biology, recombinant technology, and immunotherapeutic succored in the evolution of the medical sector.

Career Opportunities in Medical Biotechnology:

There are many career opportunities available in Research and Development, Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals, Diagnostic Centres, Manufacturing Sector of Biotechnology, Academic Sector for students who want to make a career in Medical Biotechnology:

Job Profiles for Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:

• Assistant Clinical Laboratory Technologist
• Assistant Biological Supplier Manufacturing Technologist
• Assistant Environmental Technologist
• Assistant Food Safety Mechanism Technologist
• Assistant Pharmaceutical Research Technologist

Food Biotechnology

The increasing human population is proportional to the demand of food. Food biotechnology surmounts the difficulties in food production, food processing and food preservation. Biotechnology brings out the alternate sources of food. The best examples are the single cell proteins derived from various microorganisms and development of value-added food products. Biotechnology always helps in introducing technology which aims to enhance the production, processing, packaging and preservation of food. The scope of biotechnology in this field is limitless.

Employment Sector for Food Biotechnologists

• Storage Units
• Research Units
• Laboratories
• Food and Beverage Department
• Food Marketing
• Processing and Distributing Units

Job Profiles of a Food Biotechnologist

• Assistant Quality Technician
• Assistant Food Technologist
• Assistant Regulatory Affairs Officer
• Assistant Technical Brewer
• Assistant Chefs
• Assistant Nutritional Therapist
• Assistant Product Development Scientist

Pharmaceutical biotechnology

Earlier this field only dealt with discovering and developing small molecules (drug) but time has witnessed the evolution of this industry. The horizon of this sector widened. Emergence of Biopharmaceutics has brought a new dimension. Biotechnology was always a part of drug development and discovery, but biologics as therapeutic elements resulted in the surge of biotech companies involved in the pharmaceutical industry. Cell-based therapies, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and other therapeutics are a few examples to start with.

Job Profiles of a Pharmaceutical Biotechnologist

• Medical Technologist
• Assistant Chemical Technologist
• Assistant Biological Technologist
• Assistant Chemical Technologist

What makes this course special?

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) is one of the world’s most successful and best-preferred applied (hands-on) learning brand. The National Institute of Technology qualifications place greater emphasis on self-employment and employer engagement and work readiness. The NIT-Namibia provides 70% practical and 30% theory teaching and learning methodologies coupled with various practical learning-focused activities that fully engage our students. The NIT programs in Mechanical Engineering are work-related qualifications for students taking their first steps into employment, or for those already in employment and seeking career development opportunities.

Why you must study with NIT?

At the National Institute of Technology (NIT), we know how important it is for career ambitious people to get the right education to start and further develop their careers.

With today’s industry and employers demanding so much more than just a qualification to contain the effects of global competition and to attain a competitive edge, here are the main six (6) reasons why you must choose to study at NIT:

Work Readiness

NIT courses will give you real hands on experience in pursuing your education. It is what is called learning by doing it or action learning. Based on a 70% practical (action learning, action research, projects, reflective thinking, critical thinking, etc.) and 30% theory teaching and learning and assessments methodologies, all the NIT students become work ready (prepared) during their first year of study and graduate with strong work ethics, analytical, problem solving, communication and entrepreneurial skills which are the major factors that employers are looking for in their new recruits.

Employability

NIT’s higher vocational, technical and professional courses prepare students for employment and self-employment. The NIT courses develop a student’s employability skills as they offer the experience of real-life practical tasks and work placements. NIT’s qualifications are generally well-regarded by employers as the courses enable students to develop useful hands-on skills in respective fields of study and in critical areas such as problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning, execution to evaluation. The knowledge and skills you get from NIT programs will make you be sought after by employers locally and globally. NIT helps students to gain strong knowledge and skills that are essential to start and successfully run their own businesses and/or to be appreciated competent and productive employees that every employer would like to hire.

Relevant

NIT courses are designed and developed with the help of the employers, industrial experts, professional bodies, higher education experts and lecturers. This keeps the NIT curriculum to be industry driven and relevant for today and the future’s job market and self-employment. NIT’s qualifications provide students with industry-specific knowledge, skills and competencies which make graduates’ work outputs to be relevant to their employers’ missions, visions and goals.

Practical Teaching and Assessments

The NIT’s teaching and learning is based on the seven (7) major principles teaching and learning through which theory knowledge is practically applied into various practical teaching and learning methods including action learning, projects supported by verifiable tangible evidences (outcomes), critical reflective thinking, case scenarios, job placements, industrial site visits, public lectures led by industrial experts, etc.

The assessment for NIT courses is largely based on regular coursework and work experience, which makes them an ideal option for those who crumble under the pressure of exams.

All the NIT programs are assessed through objective and rigor-based assignments and projects for which origination is examined through the Turnitin IT Application to ensure that each student submits his/her own true work. The outcome of these assignments must be in an implementable practical and quality standard.  

Career and Education Progression

Employers value NIT’s qualifications as the courses are industry-centered and directed. In other words, unlike academic programs, the NIT courses give students the industry-specific knowledge and skills which makes them readily employable. This, combined with the problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning skills they gained throughout their learning process give the NIT graduates a strong competitive edge to progress in senior job positions and to further pursue their postgraduate professional degrees such as Masters to Professional Doctorate Degree programs at various reputable higher education institutions/universities.

Reputation and Prestige

• The industry relevance, practicality, career specific and quality of the NIT qualification will make you to standout and visibly be seen and noticed in a cloud of many academically qualified graduates.
• As more employers expect their new employees to have relevant practical skills and competencies than costly academic knowledge, NIT makes your CV and profile standout.
• NIT is known for stringent quality standards which govern the provision of its higher vocational, technical and professional courses. NIT is also known for its practical, relevance and Industry driven courses.
• The above values, compounded with the work ethics, entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills you will learn and practice while studying at NIT will grant you the respect, reputation and prestige within the industry sector you will work.