Biotechnology Degree (2nd Ed. )

• Admission profile

  The Access to the Biotechnology degree does not require prior specific training. Students can access if they fulfil the Access requirements established by the regulation on force. Notwithstanding, for the access to the degree it is recommended to have carried out Scientific- Technological or Health sciences training. Moreover, it would be desirable for the future student of the Biotechnology Degree to possess the following personal and academic skills:
  · Real problem-solving interest.
  · Calculus skills.
  · Analysis and synthesis skills.
  · Technological curiosity.
  · Work perseverance and responsibility.
  · Teamwork skills.
  · Oral and written expression skills.
  · Linguistic Competence in English.

• Minimum number of ECTS enrollment credits per student and school period

  The Access to the Biotechnology degree does not require prior specific training. Students can access if they fulfil the Access requirements established by the regulation on force. Notwithstanding, for the access to the degree it is recommended to have carried out Scientific- Technological or Health sciences training. Moreover, it would be desirable for the future student of the Biotechnology Degree to possess the following personal and academic skills:
  · Real problem-solving interest.
  · Calculus skills.
  · Analysis and synthesis skills.
  · Technological curiosity.
  · Work perseverance and responsibility.
  · Teamwork skills.
  · Oral and written expression skills.
  · Linguistic Competence in English.

• Tutorial action and reception

  · Webpage:
  https://www.usc.gal/es/centro/facultad-biologia
  · Information and promotion initiatives for the degrees taught at the centre.
  · Actions such as the creation of news and reports, the creation of promotional content on the faculty's website, or the enhancement of information disseminated through the most common search engines, in virtual press or on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).
  · Support for students of the SGC Process Manual of the Faculty of Biology. This process organises those aimed at guiding the student on any issue that may be relevant, such as information on professional opportunities or the possibility of reinforcing their training through mobility.
  The biology faculty does not have a tutorial action plan (PAT) on the faculty level, but the plan is being developed at the moment.

• Title suspension rules

  When a degree suspension occurs, the USC guarantees the adequate development of teachings that were initiated by their students until its suspension. For that, the Government Council approves the criteria related with the admission of new degree entry registration and the gradual suspension of teaching impartation, among others.
  If the suspended degree is substituted for a similar one —modifying the nature of the degree—, the new degree regulations will set the conditions to facilitate students the continuity of the new degree’s studies. These regulations will also set subject equivalences in both programs.

• Access and admission rules

  The entrance tests to the three Galician universities (Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University (ABAU) and for people over 25 and 45 years old) are organized by the Interuniversity Commission of Galicia (CIUG). To apply for a place, students must meet one of the following access requirements established in article 3 of RD 412/2014:
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass the university entrance test.
  • Meet the requirements for access to university in the educational systems of Member States of the European Union or other States with which Spain has signed international agreements on this matter.
  • Have passed the university entrance test for those over 25 years of age, for those over 40 years of age with work or professional experience or the test for those over 45 years of age.
  • Possess a degree in higher vocational training, teaching of plastic arts and design or higher sports technician, or equivalent qualifications.
  • Have an official university degree, master's degree or a title corresponding to the previous organization of university education (university diploma, technical architect, technical engineer, graduate, architect, engineer) or equivalent titles.
  • Have completed partial foreign or Spanish university studies, or who, upon completing foreign university studies, have not obtained their homologation in Spain and wish to continue studies at a Spanish university. In this case, it will be an essential requirement that the corresponding university recognize at least 30 ECTS credits.
  • Be able to access the university according to educational regulations prior to Organic Law 8/2013, not included in the previous sections.

  In general, there are the following access routes to the University:
  - University access test (ABAU) Once you have finished high school, in order to access a university degree, you must pass the Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University.
  https://ciug.gal/gal/abau
  - Access from Vocational Training If you have an official title of higher vocational training technician, higher plastic arts and design technician or higher sports technician, or titles, diplomas or studies declared equivalent or approved in the Spanish educational system, you can access to study a degree at the university. Applications will be ordered according to the average grade of the higher technical degree completed out of a maximum of 10. If you wish to improve your admission grade for degree studies, you can take the voluntary part of the ABAU test.
  https://www.usc.es/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/oiu/desca…
  - Access test for people over 25 years of age This test can be taken by people who are over 25 years of age in the year in which the test is held and who do not have any academic qualifications that give access to the university through another means.
  - People over 45 years of age Those over 45 years of age can study official degree qualifications after passing an adapted entrance test.
  - Access over 40 through validation of work experience.
  For the selection of the candidates, a Qualifying Court will be established according to the proposal of the Faculty of Biology. The level of professional qualification required of the applicant will be that corresponding to the qualifications of the professional families and levels of the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP), prepared by the National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL). On the part of the University, the following list of professional families and levels with access to the degree in Biotechnology has been established:
  List of professional families and levels with access to the degree
  • Food industries: Level 3
  • Chemistry: Level 2 and 3.
  • Health: Level 2 and 3.
  • Safety and Environment: Level 2 and 3.

The training objective of this degree is for the Graduate in Biotechnology from the University of Santiago de Compostela to acquire a series of skills that allow them to develop their career in this discipline in an academic, scientific or business field.
In the area of human and animal health, priority will be given to studies aimed at solving problems related to those human or animal diseases that have greater socioeconomic relevance in our environment. Among the training priorities are that students learn the development of methodologies for diagnosing diseases, the bases of regenerative medicine, the development of vaccines and new treatments, as well as concepts of nanobiotechnology.
In the area of biotechnological processes engineering, importance will be given to those processes for which there are business opportunities in Spain, particularly in the pharmaceutical, chemical and agro-alimentary sectors. Students will be trained in the use of bioreactors, the purification of products of biological origin, the immobilization of cells or proteins, bioinformatics, protein engineering, as well as the development of new production systems and new biotechnological products.
Regarding the agro-alimentary sector, the contents of the degree will address the study and promotion of agronomic and forestry species of interest to Galicia and the rest of Spain, as well as agro-alimentary products of relevance to companies in the sector. Among other aspects, students will be trained in the study of genes of agricultural interest, genetic modification of plants, genetic engineering of microorganisms of interest in agro-alimentary food transformation processes or development of microorganisms of interest in food production.
In the aquaculture sector, the aim is to train students in the application of biotechnology in the various aspects of this industry as a means to improve the productivity and profitability of the sector. Biotechnology plays a relevant role in the reproduction of species, the diagnosis and control of diseases, or the increase in quality. The training will address areas of research in development such as the induction of reproductive maturation, sex control or genetic modification of aquatic species.
Regarding the natural environment area, the aim is to delve into the specific environmental problems of Galicia, placing special emphasis on the use of waste of chemical and biological origin. In this sense, students will be trained in the development of methodologies for the detection of contaminants, the analysis of microbial communities involved in the elimination of toxic substances, the carrying out of studies to improve biosafety or the design of processes for the use of waste.

• Competencies

  Comp01 - Students must have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their field of study) to make judgements that include a reflection about relevant topics of social, scientific or ethic nature.
  Comp02 - Students must be able to debate and transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions both in written and oral format, pertaining to Biotechnology to specialised and non-specialised/general audiences.
  Comp03 - Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake posterior studies with a high degree of autonomy.
  Comp04 - Students must know how to apply theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the degree in a professional manner and be competent posing and solving problems, as well as, in the creation/defence of arguments, both in academic and professional areas related to innovation and biotechnological industry.
  Comp05 - Study and understand autonomously, with time and resources management, new knowledge and techniques in Biotechnology, and acquire the ability to work in teams.
  Comp06 - Recognise the criteria for scaling biotechnological processes based on the data obtained in basic experimentation on a laboratory scale, taking into account economic parameters and rationalising the use of matter and energy.
  Comp07 - Have an integrated vision of the R&D&i process and know how to describe the basic business concepts, applying them to the biotechnology company.
  Comp08 - Clearly appreciate the ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of the professional activity to be carried out, as well as know and apply biotechnological risk assessment criteria.

• Abilities and skills

  A/S01 - Think in an integrated manner and approach problems from different perspectives with critical thinking.
  A/S02 - Look for, process, analyse/interpret and synthesize relevant information and results from different sources and draw conclusions in topics related to Biotechnology.
  A/S03 - Organise and plan the workload.
  A/S04 - Interpret experimental results and identify the consistent and inconsistent elements.
  A/S05 - Work in teams.
  A/S06 - Maintain an ethical commitment, as well as a commitment to equality and inclusiveness.
  A/S07 - Initiative, entrepreneurial spirit and adaptation to new situations (resilience).
  A/S08 - Leadership and team management.
  A/S09 - Know how to identify the different types of viruses, microorganisms and animal and vegetable tissues with application in the field of Biotechnology.
  A/S10 - Know how to analyse data and interpret experimental results pertaining to the areas of Biotechnology.
  A/S11 - Understand and know how to apply the physical and chemical principles of biological processes with application in Biotechnology, as well as the main tools employed to investigate them.
  A/S12 - Know how to apply the instrumental techniques and work protocols in a laboratory, applying the policies and techniques pertaining to safety and hygiene, waste management and quality.
  A/S13 - Know how to obtain and interpret information from the main data bases (biological, omics, bibliographic) and employ bioinformatic tools.
  A/S14 - Know how to analyse and design biotechnological industrial processes and apply them to the improvement of processes and products on the basis of sustainability and quality management criteria.

• Knowledge

  K01 - Know the most important concepts, methods and findings of the different branches of Biotechnology.
  K02 - Have an integrated vision of the functioning of cells and organisms, including its biomolecules, metabolism, gene expression, relationship among cellular compartments, as well as perception, signalling and communication mechanisms.
  K03 - Know about the balances and transferences of matter and energy, applied thermodynamics and separation operations, as well as knowing how to apply them to solve engineering problems.
  K04 - Know the techniques that allow to determine the properties of proteins and be able to analyse and modify their structure according to its application to Biotechnology.
  K05- Know the molecular bases and the handling techniques of gene information in microorganisms, animals and plants, and understand its applications to the different biotechnological areas.
  K06 - Know the fundamentals of cellular and tissue bioengineering, the therapeutical possibilities of regenerative medicine and its current limitations, both technical and ethical.
  K07 - Know the basics of quality control and business economic management, as well as legal and ethical aspects of biotechnology.

Mobility

Student mobility is regulated through the “Regulation of inter-university exchange.” Exchange programmes are managed through the International Relations Office, such as national exchange programmes (SICUE) as well as Europeans (ERASMUS) and from outside the European Union (exchanges with Latin American countries or English-speaking countries):
https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/internacional
Student mobility will be carried out from the second year of the degree, in a quarterly or annual period. The selection of candidates, in the different calls for academic exchange in which the destinations will be assorted by the centre, will be carried out according to the rules.
The biology faculty calls for information meetings of the second and third year of the degree, about the different mobility programmes, in which the RAM, the centre manager and the mobility coordinator of the SICUE programme. Moreover, the academic coordinators of the programmes and the centre’s manager help the students with the management of documents for the establishment of agreements.

Internships

The study plan for the Degree in Biotechnology contemplates the completion of external internships for a total of 4.5 ECTS. The fundamental objective is for students to develop the skills acquired in subjects of the Degree through their immersion in a work environment representative of their future professional context.
Although the external internships are scheduled for the 2nd semester of the fourth year of the Degree, students will be able to do them throughout the academic year. They will be organized and managed in order to guarantee quality, academic recognition and the most appropriate use of them by the students. To do this, the students will have an external tutor, belonging to the institution where the practices are carried out, who will be coordinated with an academic tutor who will carry out the evaluation based on the memory that the student students must complete, and the report issued by the external tutor.
They may be carried out in collaborating organizations or entities, such as companies, public and private entities, related to the field of biotechnology in a broad sense (research and development, pharmaceutical, health, industry, environmental management, agri-food, agriculture, etc.). They may also be carried out in USC facilities. Currently, the Faculty of Biology has active agreements with numerous entities that work in the field of biotechnology.

• Graduates profile

  The bachelor's degree in biotechnology offers multidisciplinary training that enables graduates to face multiple professional itineraries both in the academic and industrial field, as well as aspects pertaining to social, legal and ethic of Biotechnology.

• Professional outlets

  The career opportunities available to the Biotechnology graduates include a wide range of areas in which they can develop their work, which would be organised as follows:
  · Teaching, both in high schools and universities, as well as scientific dissemination.
  · Research, development and innovation, both in the public and private sector, in hospitals, research institutes, companies or universities. Within this field we can distinguish four main areas:
  1. Health: encompasses every aspect pertaining to human and animal health, from development and production of diagnostic tests to medicine, vaccines, regenerative therapies, etc.
  2. Agro-alimentary: its focus is on the production and improvement of food, including production processes, food safety, aquaculture or genetic modification of plants and animals.
  3. Industrial: includes every industrial process in which biotechnology is applied, such as the engineering of proteins or the production systems based on the use of microorganisms, animal and vegetal cells.
  4. Environmental: encompasses from the detection of pollutants to the development and implementation of industrial waste purification or repurposing.
  · Development and research management, business management and direction, patents and intellectual property management, knowledge management, technological surveillance, advice and consulting, design of marketing and commercialization strategies.

To obtain the title of Bachelor in Biotechnology, it is mandatory to complete a Final Disseration (TFG) of 15 ECTS credits, consisting of a Project or original work of the student in the field of Biotechnology, to be presented individually to a tribunal, in which the skills acquired in the previous teachings of the Degree are synthesized and integrated.
The student may complete the TFG throughout the fourth academic year of the Degree, as long as they do not have more than 75 credits pending to complete the studies, excluding those corresponding to the Final Degree Project.
The TFG may be bibliographic, industrial, or basic or applied research. It will include, at a minimum, bibliographic search, and review tasks, reading and integration of information, preparation of outlines, writing and presentation.