INTRODUCTION

The Pharmaceutical Management course is a unique and innovative, multidisciplinary course that provides an exciting opportunity for students to combine pharmaceutical science and management with the aim of producing “scientifically aware” managers for careers in the pharmaceutical industry. The aim of the Pharmaceutical Management programme is to provide you with skills in both areas and to develop those personal qualities that are vital to an effective management culture. Graduates will have a unique contribution to make in health management and to management teams in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries and in the management of health care provision.

On completion of this course you will have significant skills in science and management in an industry sector that offers significant scope for graduate employment. The breadth and knowledge gained from this course is reflected in the wide range of career paths with opportunities in marketing, health care, retail management and operations management.

You should note, however, that this type of course does not lead to a professional qualification as a pharmacist

ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE

To ensure students have both the pre-requisite knowledge and technical English competence we require the successful completion og the Science Foundation Programme (Bilingual) along with their English langiuage training programme (IELTS 5.0) by the end of stage one. During stage two students will continue their studies with bilingual assessments while developing their English languagae competence to IELTS6.0 minimum. At Year 2 of the Diploma programme, students will be taught entirely in English.

COURSE PROGRAMME MODULES

Science Foundation Programme
English Language Training

Diploma Program Year 1
Cell Biology for Pharmaceutical Management
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Biochemistry I
Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II
Pharmaceutical chemistry I & II
Pharmaceutical Analysis
Business Economics
Foundations of Marketing
Foundations of Productions/ Operations & Management
Foundations of Accounting I
Communication Skills I

Diploma Programme Year 2
Introduction to Pharmacology
Systematic Pharmacology 2
Immunology & Immunopathology
Clinical Data Management
Drug Regulations & Quality Assurance
Management of Service Operations
Marketing Management and Strategy
Marketing Communication
Resource Planning
Statistics and experimental design
Communication Skills II

MODULE DESCRIPTIONS

Programme Admission: See Science Foundation Programme

FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA MODULES

PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE MODULES

Cell Biology
This module covers topics and techniques needed in studying/understanding cell structure and function of cells and tissues. Concepts of gene structure will also be covered in topics such as Mendelian genetics and inheritance; nucleic acid structure and function; cell cycle and its control; genetic abnormalities; DNA techniques and technology; medical potential of new technology etc.

Pharmaceutical Microbiology
This module focuses on the principles of pharmaceutical microbiology and outlines the properties of microbes that are relevant to pharmaceutical science. Topics such as organism taxonomy; bacterial cell structure and function; microbial growth and metabolism; action of antibiotics; pure culture techniques; their use in and spoilage of pharmaceutical products. Also virus structure, function and cultivation; bacterial, human and animal viruses; retroviruses; pathogenicity and growth cycles.

Biochemistry 1
This module provides a basic understanding of the physiochemical principles of biochemistry and its application in understanding the function of bio-molecules in biochemical reactions.

Human Anatomy and Physiology
The aim of this module is to introduce the discipline of physiology and provide knowledge and understanding of the functional organization of the human body and demonstrating major aspects of the control and integration of selected body systems in health and disease.

Pharmaceutical Analysis
This unit provides an introduction to the analysis of drugs and related substances, primarily spectroscopic, electrophoretic and chromatographic methods. The concept of quality assurance; quality control and good laboratory practice are presented. The development of pharmaceutical products and the outline of regulatory requirements are also discussed. The unit covers the principles and pharmaceutical applications of ultraviolet; visible; luminescence and infrared spectroscopy and polarimetric analysis of drugs. Students will be also introduced to the application of capillary zone, micellar electrokinetic and electrochromatographic methods. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies, for the analysis of drug and other pharmaceutical substances, such as thin layer chromatography and HPLC will also be taught in the unit.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry
The module introduces Physical and Organic Chemistry, with particular relevance to pharmaceutical products. Features of organic chemistry, essential to drug action will be covered.

Product Technology
The aim of this module is to give a deeper understanding of biotechnology processes, such as the use of microbes in the production of pharmaceutical products such as vaccines and antibiotics. The methods for sterilization of pharmaceuticals will also be covered.

MANAGEMENT MODULES

You will take four modules that are devoted to the fundamentals of management. These are:

Business Economics
An introduction to key economic concepts, principles and policy instruments in the context of recent events. The emphasis will be on topics, which are of particular importance to decision-makers in business. For example, Consumer and producer behaviour in markets; Perfect competition and monopoly; Oligopoly and strategy; Economic issues related to labour markets; Economic issues related to boundaries of the firm; Government regulation of competition and business.

Foundations of Accounting
This module provides and insight into the nature, significance and limitations of accounting. Students will develop and understanding of the role of accounting in organizations, the preparation and interpretation of financial statements in order to appreciate the significance and limitations of accounting.

Foundations of Marketing
This module is an introduction to the concepts and principles of marketing and their application. You will have also acquired an ability to evaluate a company's marketing effectiveness and acquired project management, research analytical and evaluation skills.

Foundations of Production / Operations Management (POM concepts 1)
This module introduces you to the role of production/operations management within an organism and the concept of a product or service in the context of delivery system design. The principal issues that concern the operations management are explored, for example, capacity management, process organization, technology, operations planning, quality assurance and safety.

Communication Skills 1 & 2
These are applicable to those who do not possess English as a first language. These first year modules are intended to develop your written and oral communication skills, the use of IT and to assess your use of your Personal Development file for your learning. Teamwork skills are also developed in these modules. These skills are all vital in the competitive market for employment.

YEAR 2 DIPLOMA MODULES

These modules carry forward the knowledge of physiological systems gained in the first year and examine the effect of drug action on the major physiological systems of the body.

PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE MODULES

Introduction to Pharmacology
Introduces students to the principles of pharmacology, the basic anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular system together with the sites in these systems at which established therapeutic agents act and on the major applications of such agents in disease.

Dosage Form Design
This module aims to stimulate a conceptual understanding of the role of colloid, surface and material science in the formulation of non-parenteral pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry
Students will be introduced to the concepts of enzyme action and the interaction of drugs with enzymes. The process of metabolism will also be considered to promote a general understanding of the involvement of enzymes in metabolic pathways.

Systematic Pharmacology 2
Designed to stimulate a broad understanding of the structure and function of the CNS (central nervous system) and the endocrine system and how they may be disrupted in pathophysiological conditions. Classes of drugs used to treat the conditions will be discussed as will the link between the biological science and areas of new development in the pharmaceutical industry.

Immunology and Immunopathology
Participants in this module will acquire an understanding about the nature and role of the immune system in health and disease. Provides a link between basic biological science and the practice of clinical pharmacy.

Statistics and Experimental Design
This module encourages the acquisition of higher levels of numeracy and computational confidence. It also introduces the concepts behind statistical tests of significance and their application to normally distributed, ordinal and categorical data during critical evaluation of pharmaceutical data.

Reproductive Biology
In this module you will gain a thorough understanding of reproductive anatomy and physiology; embryonic and foetal development; and the causes and treatment of reproductive pathology/endocrinology.

MANAGEMENT MODULES

Resource Planning
Themes introduced in POM concepts 1, such as quality management and capacity management, will be extended, and the application of operations management in both manufacturing and service environments will be explored.

Marketing Management and Strategy
This module builds on the earlier marketing module. Students will be trained in the full range of marketing management and strategy frameworks and the role of integrated marketing communications. Using case studies you will begin to apply marketing management and strategic concepts to practical business situations.

Marketing Communications
Overview of integrated marketing communications; Advertising management; Personal selling and negotiation; Below the line promotion; Public relations; Branding and design; Marketing communications industry.

ELECTIVES

Marketing Research: Strategic Implications
This module provides an understanding of the range of available Marketing Research techniques, how they work and how they generate information for marketing decision-making.

Management of Service Operations
An introduction to modeling of business problems through methods of operation research. The module, for example, includes: Service package/product characteristics; Service strategy; Service distribution and location; Service process design (including blueprinting and benchmarking); Service layout; Productivity measurement in services; Customer satisfaction and the service quality link.

ATTENDANCE

Lectures will he given on a daily basis. Monday to Friday
Each lecture will be presented over 2 hour duration
At the end of week 6, there will be a two week study recess followed by the final exam for that module.
Note: All assessments will he conducted in English and Chinese for Foundation and Diploma programme Year 1 only.

ASSESSMENTS

This course is assessed by a combination of coursework and exam. Coursework will be assessed throughout the module and exam will be at the end of each semester. Coursework involves doing a report, presentation or project work to develop an application system.

CERTIFICATION

Candidates who successfully complete the programme will be awarded a Diploma from the foreign university partner. Graduates will be eligible to complete a final year of study overseas to qualify for their Bachelor degree award.