Entrepreneurship in the life sciences, 6 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in health care, biomedicine, biology, cellular and molecular biology, pharmaceutics, chemistry, medicine or biotechnology. English language skills equivalent to English B at Swedish upper secondary school.

The course aims to introduce the concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as establish (placing) these concepts within the life science context.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Regarding knowledge and understanding

• explain bioentrepreneurship and describe its components and forms,

Regarding skills and abilities

• discover challenges and identify underlying needs as well as applying creative techniques such as prototyping,

Regarding judgment and approach

• show understanding for and apply feedback.

The course deals with the phenomenon of innovation and bioentrepreneurship, entrepreneurship in the life sciences. There will be learning activities and assignments linked to the three learning outcomes.

In the course we will ask the questions "What is an innovation" and "Who is the entrepreneur"? The result of a minor research study will be presented as a scientific poster, an extended abstract and an short speech. To support this work, we will also practice scientific writing, as well as oral and visual communication. In teams you will explore opportunities for innovation by addressing life science related challenges with user-centred design methodology. Whether your bioentrepreneurial future will involve the work with profitable businesses or sustainable social enterprises, the aim is to create value for users. 

Last but not least you will be introduced to peer-to-peer feedback. You will practice different methods for review and feedback in teams of two and reflect on your learnings with an individual report.

The course is given at the master's level, where the students are assumed to be familiar with the most common study methods in higher education. The fundamental pedagogical view is based on entrepreneurial learning and requires active student participation. The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, interactive workshops, and a team as well asindividual projects.

The examination consists of

• a scientific poster and abstract, as well as the presentation of that work and opposition on another students work (Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction) 
• a written report from the team project (Fail/Pass),
• an oral presentation and opposition of the team project (Fail/Pass),
• an individual reflection from peer-to-peer feedback work (Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction). 

In order to pass the course the student needs to obtain the grade pass on all examinations. To obtain a "pass with distinction" on the course, the student also needs to get the grade "pass with distinction" on the scientific poster (including abstract) and the peer-to-peer review.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities,  the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc.   Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Compulsary attendance
Attendance seminars and presentations are compulsory. The course director assesses if and, in that case, how absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the course director's instructions, the student's results for respective part will not be registered in LADOK.

Limited number of examinations
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.

Participation in an examination is defined as an occasion on which a student attends an examination, even if the student submits a blank examination paper. If a student has registered to sit an examination, but does not attend the examination, this is not defined as participation in the examination.

The course has been cancelled.

The course language is English.