Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Health Economics Course Descriptor

Course Summary

The course develops a critical understanding of the evolution and impact of the industrialisation of biological processes. It considers the wider economic, ethical and societal contexts for manufacturing and the key areas where industrialisation is taking place. It explores the methodologies and technologies that are employed within scaled production and the impact that industrialisation and manufacturing have on health economics and markets.

Course Aims

• To introduce learners to key stages in the evolution of industrialisation and manufacture of biological processes, and the wider business, ethical, environmental, societal and regulatory contexts within which manufacturing takes place.
• Examine the challenges and opportunities afforded by the industrialisation and manufacture of biological processes and the impact these have on health economics.
• To provide a detailed examination of the principles, methodologies, technologies and tools employed to scale up biological process for industrialisation and manufacture.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, learners will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year. 

This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

• Online learning
• Online discussion groups
• Online assessment

Course information and supplementary materials will be available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Learners are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Learners are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Off-the-job learning and teaching (6 days x 7 hours) = 42 hours
• One-the-job learning (12 days x 7 hours) = 84 hours (e.g. 2 days per week for 6 weeks)
• Private study (4 hours per week) = 24 hours

Total = 150 hours

Workplace assignments (see below) will be completed as part of on-the-job learning.

Assessment

Formative

Learners will be formatively assessed during the course by means of set assignments. These will not count towards the final degree but will provide learners with developmental feedback. 

Summative

Assessment will be in two forms:

Feedback

Learners will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Learners will also attend a formal meeting with their Academic Mentor (and for apprentices, including their Line Manager). These bi or tri-partite reviews will monitor and evaluate the learner’s progress.  

Feedback is provided on summatively assessed assignments and through generic internal examiners’ reports, both of which are posted on the VLE.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to learners; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books 

• Jones, A. M. (2013). Applied health economics (2nd ed.). London ; New York :  Routledge.
• Mader, S. S. (2004). Biology (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. 
• Smart, N. (2013). Lean Biomanufacturing (1st edition). Woodhead Publishing

Journals

Learners are encouraged to read material from relevant journals on industrialisation, manufacturing and health economics as directed by their course leader.

Electronics Resources

Learners are encouraged to consult relevant websites on industrialisation, manufacturing and health economics.

Indicative Topics

• Biological processes, industrialisation and manufacture
• Health economics
• Principles and key concepts in scaled biological processes