Knowledge in action...
that's what life science education is
about at the Golden LEAF
Biomanufacturing Training and Education
Center, or BTEC, at NC State University.
Not just technical know-how, but
understanding the science behind the
practice and imagining the possibilities.
We are able to bring our key science
people, our lab people, our lab validation
people. We're able to bring them into this
facility so they can actually then take
what they learn in the classroom and go
and work with that hands-on in a true
clean room facility. You will come in and
you will run the same kind of assays
that people run everyday back in the lab
at companies such as mine. Through a
partnership with NC State and BioNetwork
the Golden LEAF BTEC facility
provides the setting for high-quality
hands-on training for life science
industry professionals, college students,
and career changers. The facility is home
to two top tier learning organizations
the Biomanufacturing Training and
Education Center and BioNetwork's
Capstone Center. NC State's BTEC
program provides bioprocess development,
engineering, biomanufacturing, and
analytical education for NC State
students and scientists and engineers
already working in the field.
BioNetwork's Capstone center offers
fundamental science and GMP training for
entry-level and technical professionals
in bioprocessing, analytical chemistry,
microbiology, and aseptic manufacturing.
Classroom instruction is paired with
hands-on labs including a simulated cGMP
manufacturing area focused on
pharmaceutical production. Students are
encouraged to experiment and learn from
mistakes in a safe and controlled
setting - something impractical in the
workplace but invaluable to real
innovation.
To be able to make mistakes
correct those mistakes, to be able to see
how to work with the equipment...I think
it's a huge advantage.
Learners can come and feel safe, and try
things out, learn new things, and not have
that pressure on them. And that is
extremely important because but you
can't jeopardize the operation that's
going on, at the same time you have to be
able to get them those basic skills.
Not only did you get this foundational
technology, you were able to apply that
learning in a working scenario. Industry
experienced instructors help develop
critical thinking and troubleshooting
skills. Learners our first grounded in
scientific and engineering theory, then
concepts are explored and applied and
hands-on lab activities.
Companies want talent. They want great
people. That's how they build their
organizations. It was really very
difficult to find people to bring in
especially when you had to hire a
tremendous number of people over a short
period of time.
There's lots of smart people that you
can hire that come out of university and
community college system's, but many of
them had never been next to a vessel any
bigger than 500 milliliter erlenmeyer
flask. What you're trying to do is
develop medicines that are efficacious
that are safe
the highest quality - I mean it's serious
stuff.
This industry is not about the cheapest
labor.
It's about the most qualified labor.
Learners from a wide range of
backgrounds can find the right
educational program to meet their career
goals.
They've reported to me many times that
particular course help them get a
job. So the conclusion of the BTEC
course, I felt extremely confident about
going into the biotech world here in RTP
because I'm able to go in and actually
apply what I've learned, ask the right
questions, and help solve customer
problems.
What differentiated this area from other
parts of the country was the commitment
to workforce development. The Golden LEAF
BTEC facility has supported North
Carolina's transition to an innovative
highly-skilled life science workforce.
It's very unique facility and I don't
know of anything like it in the world.
I think it was one of the best things that
North Carolina could have ever done.
By bringing our employees here we're able to
actually get really highly productive
employees in half the time.
This is the best program the world for
what you do. When you combine this
facility, with this faculty, with this
institution, with our community college
system and you put that all together
you build the strongest biopharmaceutical
cluster in the world. Knowledge in action.
Learn more about training opportunities
for you and your company.