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Postgraduate Certificate in Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology by Distance Learning
This international e-course in “Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology” in co-operation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is aimed at training scientists and law specialists in biosafety expertise and evaluation. The course offers a solid basis to be able to set up and implement regulatory biosafety frameworks related to plant biotechnology, and to assist in the legislation and interpretation of biosafety risk assessment, and communication to policymakers or the public.
The program includes an introductory section on plant biotechnology and its applications for agriculture and industry. The main core covers the basics of risk assessment and regulatory structures, food and feed safety assessment, and environmental safety assessment. An overview of national and international regulatory systems is included. The final section deals with risk perception and communication.
Biotechnology’s promise to revolutionize industrial practice is becoming a reality. Year by year the number of commercial biotechnology products increases exponentially. The anticipated wide-ranging impact of biotechnology on social and economic welfare makes it imperative that adequate safety standards be set to sustain and safeguard public health and the environment without hindering technological advancement. This demands institutional capacities and professional competence in exercising regulatory oversight.
Industrial countries have addressed biosafety with a number of regulatory approaches varying greatly in terms of scope and administrative detail. In developing countries, the lack of standards for the development, handling and commercialization of biotechnology products not only compromises human & animal health and environmental safety but, in addition, raises a major barrier to accessing technologies and products.
Currently, developing countries are setting up National Biosafety Frameworks in compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. However, compliance with national and international regulation of GMOs requires multi-disciplinary expertise and the ability to deal with a rapidly growing body of relevant information. At present there is a lack of a critical mass of professionals to deal effectively with the complexity of issues related to the assessment and management of biological risks.
The Certificate in Biosafety assists industry and national authorities in applying regulatory standards and augments international capacity building efforts aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol of the Convention on Biological Biodiversity through the provision of state-of-the-art knowledge in biological risk assessment and management.
The Certificate is interdisciplinary with students and faculty from natural & social sciences and the law. The course is part of the e-Biosafety Training Programme of UNIDO that is given in a framework of co-operation with the University of Concepción (UDEC, Chile), the University of Malaya (Malaysia), The Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the Marche Polytechnic University Ancona (Italy).
Objectives
- expert information on current and potential future developments in biotechnology
- expert information on national and international norms and regulations in biotechnology
- advanced skills to conduct risk assessments and apply risk management in biotechnology
- risk communication skills
At the end of the course, participants will be able to conduct risk assessments and apply risk management options, while at the same time deal with public policy issues at the interface of science, government, industry, and civil society. The Certificate is suitable for individuals engaged as biosafety professionals in government agencies or industry. It is also tailored for individuals with an interest in public policy, legal and ethical aspects of biotechnology.
Programme
The duration of the Postgraduate Course in Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology is one year. The full programme of the course can be viewed in the Course Catalogue of Ghent University.
The course has started on November 14th, 2009.
The course is an e-learning distance course; two on campus periods of each two weeks are foreseen in the beginning (January 2010) and at the end (June 2010) of the course.
Conditions
A maximum of 25 students will be accepted. Students should pay a registration fee and cover their expenses (travel, accommodation, per diem) for the on campus periods. Selection will take place based on the curriculum vitae of the applicant and will take into account the professional interest in biosafety issues related to biotechnology. Preference will be given to students from Africa.
The student should be holder of one of the following diplomas:
Admission requirements
1. Admission to a postgraduate course
A postgraduate course aims at developing an in-depth understanding and specialization in the field of competencies acquired during a previous master course (2 cycles). The general admission requirement is that the student must possess a four-year Flemish master degree. An applicant wishing to gain admission for a postgraduate on the basis of a foreign diploma must submit an application, admission is not direct. The prospective student must send his completed application form. Please click here to download the application form (Word format)
After a first investigation, to check if the student meets the general admission requirements, the file will be presented to the Faculty Board, who will assess the application and grant or deny admission. The final decision will be an official letter from the Rector of the University.
Along with the application form, foreign students are also required to send a legalized copy of their diploma.
How do I legalize a copy of my diploma?
2. Knowledge of Languages
Applicants who want to be admitted to an English study programme and who do not have English as their native language must give evidence of a good knowledge of English, written and spoken, by presenting one of the following documents:
- A certificate which affirms that the language of instruction of one year successfully studies or a major part of it was in English
- A recent TOEFL-test with a score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based)
- A certificate of the British council with an overall band of 5.5
- A certificate of the Language Centre of Ghent University
Students whose knowledge is insufficient may be obliged to follow an English language course. Non native speakers are strongly advised to follow the course of ‘Scientific English’ prior to the start of the academic year.
3. Solvability
The Ghent University expects that students dispose of substantial financial and material means to support themselves for the complete duration of their stay as a student and therefore does not give financial nor material aid.
4. Insurance
See: http://www.ugent.be/en/foreignstud/en/prospectstud/insurances/
Grants
A limited number of grants will be awarded by UNIDO for participants with African nationality who can provide evidence of being actively involved in the implementation of national biosafety regulations. The selection will be based upon evidence for the involvement of the applicant in national regulatory system as well on academic or professional merit.
The grant will cover travel and accommodation expenses (per diem) for the the two on campus meetings, but NOT the course inscription fee (520 Euros for participants from least developed countries).
To apply for a grant please send along with your the application form (see below), a letter of motivation and an attestation from your institute that your involved in the implementation of national biosafety regulation not later than October 15, 2009 to:
IPBO - Ine Pertry
Faculty of Sciences
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
B-9000 Belgium
Ine.Pertry@UGent.be
Applications received after October 15 will not be taken into consideration. The selected candidates will be informed by August 31st, 2009
Visa application
If you are from a non-European Union country, you may require a visa. For this and other questions, you should contact the Belgian consulate in your country: Click here for a list of Belgian Embassies Abroad
You can read more about visa procedures here
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Applications for this academic year are closed. A new call will be launched for next year.
If you agree with the above-mentioned conditions and you are interested in studying the e-Postgraduate Course 'Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology', you can send your application form (COMPLETED WITH ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AS INDICATED IN THE APPLICATION FORM!) to:
IPBO - Ine Pertry
Faculty of Sciences
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
B-9000 Belgium
Do not forget to confirm in writing that you have read, understood and that you accept the admission requirements.
Applications will not be considered if they are not accompanied with legalized copies of the diplomas.
If you have any questions please contact Sylvia.Burssens@UGent.be