COURSE SCHEDULE

Program:                    Biotechnology

Type:                          Undergraduate

Training course:       Biotechnology                     

Code:                         52420201

Duration:                   Full time – 4 years

1. Goals  
   1. General goals

• Students completing program gain the capacity for professional qualification, creative thinking, good ethics and health to address practical problems of field study.
• In general term, flexibility has been designed for both learning course and teaching methodology, responding to the students’ aspirations as well as the reality high-tech labor market demands, Additionally, the well-designed program interfaces between disciplines, allows the graduates will increasingly be recruited for their adaptability, and they could adapt readily in a new culture and working environment.
  1. Professional goals
     1. Knowledge: The foundation of current program should be able to equip them with basic social and natural knowledge to make meaningful contribution in any flied of study, including pharmaceutical biotechnology, agricultural and environmental biotechnology, and food technology.
     2. Skills: The training program helps the learner acquire skills in an interactive environment, including development of the skill of observation, identification, organization as well as analytic skills, that would help them in promoting an understanding about the field of study, specialized in molecular biology, microorganism, pharmaceutical biotechnology, environmental techniques as well as food techniques. After graduated, students have sufficient knowledge and skills to undertake scientific research projects, develop biotechnological products, or have further graduate study.
     3. Attitude: Students are well aware that application of professional ethics, their responsibilities to society. 

2. Learning Standard output
   1. Knowledge
      1. Specialized knowledge

• General knowledge: Obtain knowledge on the basic principles of the Marxist and Leninist Ideology, the revolution lines of Vietnam communist party, Ho Chi Minh ideology.
• Professional knowledge: Obtain the basic knowledge and professional expertise in biotechnology.
  1. Professional capacity
• Candidate pursue careers as scientists in academia or industry, whereas others go on to apply their training and expertise in related fields;
• Job opportunities are found in life science departments in colleges and universities; private and government research institutes; food production, pharmaceutical, agrichemical, and environmental industries;
• Graduates join the teaching in colleges or universities;
• Graduates may want to consider in business or economics to position themselves to excel in this industry, either in sales or management;
• Graduates could continue their education in graduate (Master or PhD) or professional school.
  1. Skills
     1. Basic skills
• Providing the skill of organization, anatytical skill of chemical – microbiological – molecular – food chemical – genetic – tissue culture techniques.
• Evaluation, inspection, quantification and management of food quality, Vietnam’s and international quality standards systems, methodology of food quality assurance.
• Analysis and management of the raw materials’ quality, semi-finished products and biological products.  
• Development and marketing of new biotechnological, biological products. 
• Master specific laboratory skills relevant to careers in biotechnology, such as cell technology, microbiology, molecular biology, food technology and environmental engineering. 
• Having capacity of research, training and self-training.
  1. Soft skills
• Communication, collaboration skill.
• Analytical thinking and problem solving soft skill.
• The ability of using foreign languages: Graduates achieve English level 3 according to the framework of foreign language skill for Vietnamese students.
• The ability of using information technology: Graduates achieve the basic requirement according to the framework of information technology skills standards issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.
  1. Attitude
     1. Moral qualities, professional sense, civic responsibility
• Having good career ethics, community consciousness, and civic responsibility.
• Complying and respecting with disciplines, rules in labor organization. 
  1. The Ability of knowledge update and attitude in working
• Having the spirit of knowledge update, innovation, and good participation in teamwork as well as personally working. Ability to update knowledge, attitude in work
  1. Career outlook
• Opportunities of graduates are widely varied, including research and development, quality assurance and quality control.
• Employment is available in teaching at institutes, university and biotechnology center.
  1. Post-graduate outlook
• Continuing the further study of postgraduate program in national or international universities.
  1. The referent program, schedules

The course schedule/program is referented from: 

• Domestic programs: Can Tho University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Science – VNU, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, An Giang University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Lac Hong University, Nha Trang University, Ho Chi Minh City International University, Da Nang University.
• International program: Universidad de Granad –  Spain, Université de Poitiers – France,  Tshwane University of Technology – South Africa, University of  Johannesburg – South Africa. 

3. Program duration

• 4 years (11 semesters. From semester 8, you can tailor your course and project selections to suit your goals and can choose from three different tracks: Pharmaceutical biotechnology, agricultural and environmental biotechnology, Food technology).

4. Credits

• Requirement: 127 credits (not included: Physical Education: 5 credits, National Defense Education: 8 credits).

5. Program admission

• Citizens who graduated from high school or equivalent under the provisions of the current regulations on enrollment of universities and colleges of the current system of the Ministry of Education and Training.

6. Training process and graduation conditions 
   1. Training process

The program is implemented in accordance with the Regulation on tertiary training according to the credit system issued together with Decision No. 43/2007 / QD-BGDDT of August 15, 2007, which is amended and supplemented Article No. 57/2012 / TT-BGDDT dated December 27, 2012 by the Ministry of Education and Training and the current tuition fee system of the Open University of Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh.

1. Graduation conditions

Students are eligible for graduation when they meet the conditions stipulated in No, 27 of the Regulation on tertiary education according to the credit system issued together with Decision No. 43/2007 / QD-BGDDT dated August 15, 2007, amended and supplemented by a number of articles of the Ministry of Education and Training's Circular No. 57/2012 / TT-BGDDT dated December 27, 2012 and Article 25 of the Regulation on Academic Learning Current credit of the Open University of Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City, as follows:

• Until the time of graduation, student is not be examined for penal liability or not in the period of disciplinary suspension;
• Finish and accumulate all the required subject credits;
• GPA is equal or above 5.0.

7. Score scale

• The training program uses a 10-point scale and the equivalence point to the letter according to the rules of University.

8. Program

Note. To: total, T: theory, P: practice/lab course

9. Training schedules (expected)

Note. To: total, T: theory, P: practice/lab course

10. Guiding the implementation of the program
    1. List of equal and/or alternative subjects

1. Degree design

The bachelor degree program is divided into two phase:

• Phase 1: All students study the same program including subjects of general knowledge and the basis of the degree (from semester 1 to 7).
• Phase 2: Students will choose one of the three sub-disciplines for advanced study and complete the program (from semester 8 to 11).
  1. Graduation

Besides Practical labwork for graduation, students can choose to work on a Graduation thesis or study designated subjects to meet the requirements for graduation as stated in “Regulations for Credit study” by the University and the Faculty.

1. Graduation with a Graduation thesis

Students who satisfy the following requirements are able to work on a Graduation thesis:

• Accumulate substantial amount of credits for the program and finish at least 95% of the degree’s workload;
• Have a total average accumulated score of at least 6.5;
• Have a score of at least 8.00 for the Practical Labwork for Graduation;
• Have the agreement from the Graduation Thesis supervisor.
  1. Graduation without a Graduation Thesis

Students choose the subjects from the alternative subject group in the same sub-discipline to fulfill the number of credits required for graduation.

1. Guide for Application for Completion of the Degree Program for students of intake from 2099 to 2014 who study equal and/or alternative subjects

Students can only apply for program completion when they have accumulated the least requried number of credits (not including Physical Education and Military training):

1. For training course of 2009 (year of admission)

+ Specialized in: Microorganism and molecular biology: 121 credits

+ Specialized in: Food technology: 124 credits

+ Specialized in: Pharmacy:  125 credits

+ Specialized in Business Administration: 125 credits

1. For training course of 2010

+ Specialized in: Microorganism and molecular biology: 127 credits

+ Specialized in: Food technology: 129 credits

+ Specialized in: Agriculture: 130 credits

1. For training course of 2011

+ Specialized in: Microorganism and molecular biology: 128 credits

+ Specialized in: Food technology:  130 credits

+ Specialized in: Agriculture: 131 credits

1. For training course of 2012, and 2014

+ Specialized in: Microorganism and molecular biology:129 credits

+ Specialized in: Food technology:  131 credits

+ Specialized in: Agriculture: 132 credits

11. Syllabus (Attachment)

COURSE  :   MASTER OF SCIENCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018

Degree  :    Master of Science

Training course      :    Biotechnology

Code :    8420201

Style  :    Full time

1. Training objectives

General objectives

* Master's degree in Biotechnology with deep, broad and advanced knowledge in Biology and Technology; providing necessary skills and appropriate attitudes to build career in the field of Biotechnology.

Detailed objectives

- Knowledge:

• Practical and deep knowledge in the field of Biology and Technology: This training program focuses on biological processes (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology of Cells and Immunology). Technology (Cell Technology, Genetic Technology, Protein - Enzyme Technology and Technology of Fermentation) and Computational Biology (Methods of Scientific Research, Biology);
• Have interdisciplinary knowledge in application of Biotechnology in Medicine, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Food and Environment;
• Have general knowledge of administration and management to implement and supervise R & D in Biotechnology.

- Skills:

• Skills in analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating data and information regarding to Biology and Technology, thereby providing solutions to scientific problems in the areas of application of Biotechnology in Medicine,  Pharmacy, Agriculture, Food and Environment;
• Knowledge transfer skills based on research, discussion of professional issues in Biotechnology;
• Skills in organizing, administering and managing activities related to Biotechnology;
• Skills in the research, development and use of innovative technologies in the academic and occupational fields related to Biotechnology;
• Have a foreign language proficiency equivalent to 4/6, Vietnamese foreign language proficiency framework.

- Attitude:

• Ability to research, make important initiatives in the field of Biotechnology;
• Ability to adapt, orient and guide others;
• Ability to make expert conclusions in the field of Biotechnology;
• Ability to manage, evaluate and improve professional activities in the field of Biotechnology.

2. Output standard

Knowledge: Graduates will:

• Have practical knowledge and deep, broad, advanced theories; firmly comprehend principles both in theory and practice in the field of Biotechnology research;
• Have relevant interdisciplinary knowledge: Application of Biotechnology in Medicine - Pharmacy, Agriculture, Food and Environment;
• Have general knowledge of administration and management in Biotechnology product research and development.

Skills: Graduates will:

• Have kills in analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating data and information to provide solutions to scientific problems in the field of Biotechnology;
• Have knowledge transfer skills based on research, discussion of professional and scientific issues with counterparts (in Biotechnology) and with others;
• Have skills in organizing, administering and managing activities related to Biotechnology;
• Have kills in the research, development and use of innovative technologies in the academic and occupational fields related to Biotechnology;
• Have a foreign language proficiency equivalent to 4/6, Vietnamese foreign language proficiency framework.

Autonomy and responsibility: Graduates will know how to:

• Research, provide important initiatives in the field of Biotechnology;
• Adapt, self-direct and guide others;
• Make expert conclusions in the field of Biotechnology;
• Carry out the management, evaluation and improvement of professional activities in the field of Biotechnology.

Job placement after graduation

• Work in specialized agencies in Biotechnology and Biotechnology of ministries, sectors or localities;
• Take part in management activities at the management agencies related to Biotechnology and Biotechnology of the ministries, sectors, or localities;
• Be in charge of technical, quality management and testing at production units in the fields of agriculture, forestry, medicine and pharmacy;
• Conduct scientific research in the fields of biotechnology and experimental biology in enterprises, research institutes, research centers and agencies of ministries, universities and colleges;
• Teach and conduct experiments in Biotechnology and Biology at universities, colleges, professional secondary schools;
• Create, manage or participate in the management and operation of farms, enterprises producing and trading biotechnology products;
• Provide consultancy to commercial units, services in the field of agriculture, forestry, fishery, medicine and pharmacy;
• Continue to study for a doctorate degree.

3. Requirements for candidates of postgraduate program in Biotechnology

Candidates for biotechnology, master's degree:

- Preferred specialization: Candidates with a bachelor degree in Biotechnology and Biology including: Biotechnology, Biology, Bioengineering, and Applied Biology.

- Acceptable specialization: Medicine, pharmacy;

• Agriculture, forestry and fisheries;
• Veterinary group;
• Group of food processing and beverages;
• Environmental science group;
• Environmental technology engineering group;
• Chemistry.    

Candidates in acceptable specialization * must complete 3 modules (3 credits each) of:

(1) Molecular biology;

(2) Cytology;

(3) General microbiology;

*Candidates in acceptable specialization may be considered exempt from these additional modules if they have taken these modules in undergraduate program.

4. Training program

4.1. Overview of the program

Master's program in Biotechnology includes 60 credits as follows:

• General knowledge: 08 credits
• Basic knowledge and specialized knowledge (compulsory): 09 credits
• Basic knowledge and specialized knowledge (optional): 18 credits
• Graduation thesis *: 25 credits

* Thesis: total 25 credits, and must have at least one article published in domestic/foreign journals or the academic proceeding of local/foreign science conference, reflecting the main content of the thesis.

4.2. Courses