Prerequisites for admission.

Admission to the degree programme is subject to the possession of a secondary school diploma or equivalent suitable qualification obtained abroad. In accordance with the national agreement, admission is subject to an entry test aimed at assessing the initial preparation of the student in terms of secondary school level knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology. The Education Regulation of the Degree Programme sets the procedures to assess such knowledge, any assignment of specific Additional credit obligations (OFA) that, when assigned, shall be complied with within the first year of study, as well as the rules for transfers from other Degree Programmes at UNIMORE or other Universities.

Skills associated with the function

Junior biotechnologist
In order to comply with their duties, graduates in Biotechnologies gain skills and technical abilities that will enable them to:
- apply mathematical, statistical and IT methods to systems and biological processes;
- use knowledge of chemistry of biological systems for the understanding of the structure/function properties and the mechanisms for adjusting such systems;
- translate the principles of microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, cell and tissue biology in practical and applicative terms,
- use the main instrumental methodologies and modelling and computational protocols for the structural and functional characterisation of biological molecules;
- apply principles and methodologies for genomic and postgenomic analysis, including bio information techniques;
- apply tools and devices for the analysis and monitoring of biological processes;
- assess the ethical and economical implications of biotechnological activities;
- have the perception of the chemical/biological risk and apply the safety rules for laboratory activities.

Function in a work context

Junior biotechnologist
Bachelors in biotechnologies from UNIMORE can carry out professional activities applying procedures taken from biology and DNA techniques that have been combined in the industrial production of innovative products, in health and food biosafety. Biotechnologists work on biotechnological research and production, analyse the issues and choose the most effective methodology approaches to solve them, are aware of and have operating skills on plant realities of biotechnological nature. They are intermediate level professional figures, able to independently manage application protocols and consolidated knowledge for using techniques and biological systems for production purposes, and for product analysis and quality check. Three-year graduates in Biotechnologies are able to manage, assess and improve experimental aspects of biotechnological procedures, as well as resolve issues and coordinate the activity of technicians in this field. They may take part in process development, quality checks, standard and applied research projects, and marketing for a specific product or a line of biotechnological products.

Educational goals

Training objectives
The Degree Programme in Biotechnologies has the purpose of giving students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and the skills suitable for taking on middle executive roles in manufacturing businesses on the use of biological systems with different levels of complexity. Graduates gain a broad cultural knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics subjects, aimed at knowing the biological systems and the principles on which the main technological platforms for the investigation and intervention at molecular level in the field of “omics” sciences. The profile also includes the knowledge of ethical issues relating to the production and use of biotechnological products. The specific objectives of the programme are set based on further university studies that are carried out by graduates, at the same time considering the skills required for the professional activities mentioned above at the end of the three-year programme.

Training programme
The programme includes a Pre-Biologic stage, specifically aimed at providing students with the knowledge and interpretation tools in the mathematical, chemical and physical field, that are required for the theoretical and experimental study of biologic phenomena.

A Basic Biologic stage follows, with the specific purpose of providing students with the knowledge, skills and technical abilities for studying the biologic systems and phenomena at molecular, cellular and tissue level.

The final stage of the study programme has a specifically Biotechnological nature and is intended to provide students with the technical knowledge and skills to use the biological systems for application and production purposes, and for managing the relevant organisational aspects.

The learning areas identified to achieve the objectives for building the knowledge and the skills of the programme in Biotechnologies are therefore included in the following training programme:
- Area 1: Pre-Biology, relating to the basic knowledge and interpretation tools, in the mathematical, chemical and physical field;

- Area 2: Basic Biology, relating to the characterisation of biological systems at different levels of complexity and organisation;
- Area 3: Applicative and Management Biotechnology for the biotechnological use of living organisms and their components.

Communication skills

Made of traditional lectures, theoretical and practical exercises and internship or traineeship activities, the training programme provides knowledge and tools for scientific communication in Italian and English, IT skills, and opportunities for processing, presenting and discussing the experimental data;
Graduates in Biotechnologies are able to:
- express scientific concepts and information using an appropriate language, both orally and in writing;

- hold a discussion on topics dealt with during the Degree Programme;
- present issues, experimental strategies, data and results in an effective and concise way, also using IT devices;
- communicate topics relating to life science in the English language, both orally and in writing.
The acquisition of communication skills is verified and assessed through:
- oral and/or written examinations for the single teachings;
- written and/or oral reports on theoretical and practical exercises;
- thesis and oral presentation of the internship or traineeship activity during the final examination for the obtainment of the degree.

Making Judgements

Graduates in Biotechnologies acquire awareness and independent judgement through:
- traditional lectures in the pre-biology, basic biology and biotechnology areas, which focus on the interconnections between the various disciplines and the knowledge application fields;
- classroom and laboratory exercises, carried out individually or in small groups, to apply the theoretical and practical knowledge;
- seminars;
- traineeship or internship for the preparation of the degree thesis, including the design of the experimental activities, under the guidance of professionals and/or reference teachers, and the analysis and interpretation of data in an integrated and critical way.
Such activities promote the development of critical sense and independent judgement regarding:
- the scientific approach to experimental issues and the ability to plan experiments;
- the analysis, assessment and interpretation of experimental data, in light of the relevant literature;
- the understanding, contextualisation, critical assessment of scientific texts that deal with experimental procedures and protocols, results and interpretations;
- the assessment of bioethical issues related to the development of innovative technologies;
- the ability to operate properly, safely and consciously in chemical and biologic laboratories.
The independence of judgement is assessed:
- in single teaching examinations, by checking the student’s ability to face the various aspects of the subject in a critical manner, also in connection with related teachings;
- during theoretical and practical exercises and related reports describing the protocol of the experiment, its realisation and the critical assessment of the results;
- during the internship or traineeship, and the preparation of the degree thesis, also in light of the relevant literature;
- in seminars that may foster interactions and discussions among students and professors or external experts.

Learning skills

Graduates in Biotechnologies gain learning skills that are useful to:
- take on further studies with a high level of independence;
- refer to bibliographic material;
- refer to data banks and other network resources;
- use information tools for updating their knowledge as to gain a permanent professional training.

These skills are learnt through:
- traditional lectures, which help students get familiar with the textbooks for studying and consultation activities, the resources available at the physical and virtual libraries of the University, on the Internet (educational websites handled also by foreign and supranational institutions; virtual libraries; data banks; querying and data bank analysis software);
- practical exercises in the classroom, including calculus rooms and IT laboratories, which also include bibliographic and data bank consultation for processing written and/or oral reports;
- the internship or traineeship activity through which students learn an experimental method, the execution of experimental protocols, as well as the analysis and presentation of scientific results in the final examination.The learning skill acquired is checked and assessed during classroom teachings, where the interactivity between professors and students is encouraged, in laboratory practical exercises, during the internship or traineeship and during examinations and final exam.