MSc. Crop Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship
This course provides the opportunity for students with a biological background, to learn about the theory and practice of crop biotechnology, along with the business skills which will allow them to develop careers in the biotechnology business environment. This Masters Course is run by Grantley Lycett in the Plant and Crop Sciences Division and is taught by members of the School of Biosciences and the Nottingham Business School.
More details are about the MSc in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship.
Crop Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship: a growing business.
The challenge of crop biotechnology
From a theoretical possibility two decades ago, crop biotechnology has grown into a major applied science with an associated industrial base that is growing across the world - and the challenges and opportunities continue to grow. With a growing world population and a fixed area of land on the planet, crop biotechnology must rise to the task of producing new crops to feed the world. Global warming and rising sea levels add to the challenges as crops may need to be adapted to grow in ever more hostile conditions on a shrinking land surface. Biofuels are increasingly seen as a solution to the problems of global warming but producing these fuels without adding to pesticide pollution or increasing pressure on natural ecosystems by felling virgin forest for agronomic land will be a further challenge. In the face of all of these problems, consumers demand better quality produce grown with reduced chemical inputs. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for scientists who can come up with novel solutions to these problems.
Nottingham, a centre for crop biotechnology
The School of Biosciences at Nottingham University was ranked top in the country for research power in the section of Agriculture and Veterinerary Science in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. It has been at the leading edge of Crop Biotechnology research from the start and has a long and successful history of training in this area. The School has a superbly equipped new Plant Sciences building, occupied by one of the largest Plant and Crop Sciences Divisions in the UK. The division’s 21 permanent academic staff provide a wide range of teaching and research expertise, particularly in the areas of crop science, biotechnology and plant genetic manipulation.
The very first GM crop to be patented and commercialised for human consumption was developed at Nottingham by Prof Don Grierson’s group and tomato puree made from his low-polygalacturonase tomatoes outsold conventional tomato puree at leading supermarket chains for several years. This was a success story but have we not all heard of the long and sad history of scientists watching their discoveries be commercialised by others, or left completely unexploited due to their lack of business acumen? Is there not a crying need for scientists trained not only in science but in entrepreneurial business skills? You may ask whether the Bill Gateses of this world are born and not made? You may be surprised to learn that these skills can be taught and Nottingham is also at the forefront of this with Nottingham Business School Institute of Enterprise and Innovation.
A new and unique combination of employment skills
The new M.Sc in Crop Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship is designed to give graduates a unique training in the applied science of crop biotechnology, but also the skills needed to spot commercial opportunities and market their ideas. The new knowledge driven economy needs people with the technical knowledge and the skills to commercialise cutting edge research. Such people may work in management within existing companies, particularly at the technical-business interface or may take the exiting opportunity to set up their own business venture. Thus this interdisciplinary MSc degree course provides a new pattern of graduate training.
The Entrepreneurship component of the Course is delivered in the Nottingham University Business School. The Business School excels at both teaching and research. In particular: In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 70% of its research was rated as either internationally excellent or world-leading, ranking it 6th in the UK. In 2008 the Financial Times ranked their MSc in International Business in their Top 50 Masters in Management programmes, with this degree rated '5th best in international business' overall. It was also ranked first in the UK and 28th in the world in the Aspen Institute's 2007 'Beyond Grey Pinstripes' Global Top 100 CSR Ranking. The teaching and learning delivery from the staff in the Institute of Enterprise and Innovation features very active student participation.
In addition to the specific training and skills acquisition in crop biotechnology and business provided by the taught modules (link) the degree course is designed also to develop transferable personal and professional skills necessary, not only for completion of the course, but for future career development generally. Transferable and employment-related skills acquired throughout the degree course include basic qualification skills (knowledge-base, specialist skills, experience), application skills (competencies/outcomes/deliverables, task fulfilment) and core skills (problem solving, information retrieval, use of statistics, critical analysis, time management, presentation skills, experimental design and interpersonal skills such as team working).
Are you the sort of person who can rise to the challenge of applying expertise in an area of cutting edge research in a business environment? Do you want to be part of the solution to the problems facing the world? Do you enjoy the challenge of crossing boundaries and working with interesting people? The new M.Sc. in Crop Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship may be just made for you.