Abstract

BOSCH, Fèlix; NAVARRO, Alba; GARCIA-MARTIN, Laura  and  BANOS, Josep E.. Training in drug research and development: a ten-year experience (2002-2012). FEM (Ed. impresa) [online]. 2015, vol.18, n.2, pp.103-108. ISSN 2014-9840.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S2014-98322015000200005.

Introduction. Since 2002, Universitat Pompeu Fabra has been offering a professional track on Health Care Industry in its bachelor in Biology. The syllabus combines theory (lectures, seminars) plus an internship in a company/institution, and it is primarily focused on drug research. In 2006, the University began a Master in Pharmaceutical Industry and Biotechnology inspired on this course. The present article describes both programs and evaluates the current perceptions of former students about these training activities as well as their present jobs. Subjects and methods. We e-mailed a questionnaire to all former students with known address (n = 249) asking about their current job and opinion the course they followed. They rated their opinions from 0 (very bad) to 10 (excellent). Results. A total of 107 (43%) students answered the questionnaire. Opinions on the theoretical teaching and internship had mean scores of 7.6 and 8.8, respectively. The contribution of the course to their current job gave a mean score of 8.2. A total of 90.6% of respondents would choose the same course again, given the opportunity. Among those working (83.8% of the sample), 62.4% were working in private companies, 31.2% were in universities or research institutes and 6.5% were working in other paid jobs. Unemployed were 5.4% of the sample and 10.8% were following other degrees at universities. Their job satisfaction achieved a mean score of 7.7. Conclusions. We conclude that our courses in drug research were highly appreciated. Furthermore they also help students to find a satisfactory job, a good indicator of the program's applicability to the needs of workplace.

Keywords : Entering the job market; Medical education; Pharmaceutical companies; Postgraduate training in drug R+D; Program evaluation.

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