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6266 - Medical Biotechnology
Graduates in Medical Biotechnology must have general knowledge to use a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex problems in the biotechnological field. Mandatory training activities in the Degree Programme therefore aim to provide students with integrated knowledge in both biomolecular and basic medical disciplines, and, in particular, with the knowledge necessary to understand complex biological systems at the cellular and molecular level, and of the biological processes related to them, so as to be able to take action and modify them with biotechnological methods.
Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:
This knowledge is acquired through participation in lectures, laboratories for individual benchwork, and classroom exercises; through specialized laboratory activities and through the critical reading of scientific texts analyzed individually and in groups.
The assessment of knowledge and understanding is carried out through written and / or oral tests and through seminars focused on individual critical reading of recent scientific articles.
Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:
The ability to apply knowledge is acquired through extensive experience gained in teaching laboratories with individual benchwork and in research laboratories for the preparation of the graduation thesis. The evaluation of the expected results is carried out through written reports and subsequent discussion of laboratory experiences, through the experience gained during the preparation of the thesis and the final exam.
Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:
Students will develop autonomy of judgement by reading scientific articles or literature dedicated to a topic. In order to gain autonomous judgement, students will carry out a specific project, which could be either a thesis project or a scientific project, with a dedicated number of formative university credits (CFU) and culminating in the production of a dissertation with bibliography. The evaluation of autonomous judgement will be carried out through the presentation of seminars and, at the end of the degree course, by the discussion of the dissertation.
Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:
Communication skills will be continuously developed through partecipation in seminars and practical laboratory activities that are integral to many of the learning activities of the degree course. A significant part for the development of communication skills is the preparation of the degree thesis, with periodic discussion of the work and results achieved with the Dissertation Supervisor, and the final dissertation presentation using multimedia devices to an appointed Dissertation Committee.
Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:
Learning skills will be developed through active participation of students in lectures and laboratories. During these activities, instructors will stimulate students to continuous and in-depth learning by using numerous teaching instruments, such as up-to-date didactic material, technical documents, and e-learning platforms, relative to the topics presented during lectures and laboratory activities. Students will be also encouraged to use online search engines and principal databases to find up-to-date scientific information, in order to develop the skills to autonomously gain state-of the-art knowledge in a specific research area.
Learning skills will be evaluated through continuous written and/or oral tests held during the course of teaching activities, aimed at assessing the student’s capacity to integrate knowledge learnt in class and through personal study, and by critically evaluating student’s contribution during exercise activities and seminars.
Finally, the student’s ability to use adequate and advanced methods of learning will also be verified by the preparation of the Dissertation for final graduation under the guidance of the Dissertation Supervisor and evaluated by the Dissertation Committee.
Knowledge and understanding
Graduates of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree programme in Medical Biotechnology must possess general knowledge enabling them to use a multidisciplinary approach to solve complex problems in the biotechnological field. The compulsory course units of the degree programme therefore aim to provide students with integrated knowledge in the areas of biomolecular disciplines and basic medical disciplines and, in particular, with the knowledge necessary to understand complex biological systems at cellular and molecular level and the biological processes related to them, so as to be able to study and modify them using biotechnological methods. Graduates of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree programme in Medical Biotechnology: - have sound knowledge of the morphology and functions of the human body; - know the cellular and molecular aetiopathogenesis of the most significant human diseases; - know the congenital or acquired pathological situations in which it is possible to intervene with a biotechnological approach; - know the clinical diagnostic pathway for the main human diseases, including the applied technologies. Such knowledge is acquired by attending lectures, teaching laboratories and practical sessions; through specialist laboratory work; and through critical reading of scientific texts analysed individually and in groups. Knowledge and ability to understand are assessed through written and/or oral exams and through seminar activities focused on individual critical reading of recent scientific articles.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Graduates of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree programme in Medical Biotechnology: - can use the main methodologies and instruments that characterise biotechnology for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases; - can study and apply preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, based on biotechnology, in the field of human pathology; - can apply EU legislation relating to the testing of medicinal products; - can appropriately use IT and statistical methodologies applied to biotechnology in the field of human pathology. The ability to apply the knowledge is acquired through the extensive experience gained in teaching laboratories and during the preparation of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree dissertation in research laboratories. The learning outcomes are assessed through written reports and their subsequent discussion on laboratory experiences and on the experience gained during the preparation of the dissertation and at the degree examination.
Making judgements
Graduates of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree programme in Medical Biotechnology: - can recognise (also through specific diagnostic investigations) the interactions between foreign microorganisms and human organisms; - can identify elements of innovation in a project for the development of a treatment; - can identify and assess the main ethical issues raised by clinical trial protocols; - are able to formulate well-founded independent judgements and reflections to solve specific problems related to their professional activity; - can work with a high degree of autonomy, also taking responsibility for projects and organisational entities; - can use scientific instrumentation in the field of biotechnology and design and organise laboratory work, using innovative techniques; - can analyse, manage and disseminate data from experimental protocols and are able to critically analyse and solve scientific issues related to biotechnology; - can liaise with professionals working in different fields; - can interpret sources, experimental data and scientific literature. Independent judgement is developed by students through reading scientific articles or texts dedicated to a specific topic. Specifically to enable students to acquire independent judgement, the preparation of a project is envisaged, which may be the dissertation project or a scientific project, to which an appropriate number of ECTS credits will be assigned and which will culminate in an independent paper with a bibliography. Independent judgement is assessed through seminar activities and, at the end of the training programme, with the defence of the final dissertation.
Communication skills
Graduates of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree programme in Medical Biotechnology: - can work in groups in the context of design and laboratory work; - have abilities for analysis and synthesis in managing and communicating experimental data in the scientific field; - have interpersonal and communication abilities that enable them to work also in international contexts; - are able to disseminate experimental results and their knowledge to a general audience; - are able to express themselves in writing and discuss a subject of their interest on topics relating to the degree programme, with appropriate terminology and abilities for being concise, in the working contexts in which they are required to operate; - can use the English language fluently, both in writing and orally; - can draft technical-scientific reports in English. Communication skills are developed continuously through participation in seminar activities and in practical laboratory sessions, which are an integral part of numerous learning activities included in the course structure diagram. In addition, a particularly significant activity for the refinement of students’ communication skills is the preparation of the final dissertation, which involves periodic reports to the Supervisor on the work carried out and the results obtained, and its presentation and defence, using multimedia tools, before the relevant degree board.
Learning skills
Graduates of the second cycle/two-year master’s degree programme in Medical Biotechnology: - are able to organise and plan laboratory work and to explore further experimental techniques; - can keep up to date with legislation, methods, techniques and tools in the field also by consulting and studying bibliographic sources, an updating process that is essential in a constantly evolving area; - acquire a study/learning method and the ability to work towards objectives, both in groups and independently; - can select and interpret data and information; - have the learning skills needed to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy; - meet the requirements for access to a further level of training (second-level Master’s degree programme, PhD programme, Specialisation Schools). Learning skills are developed through the active participation of students in lectures and laboratory practical sessions. During these activities, lecturers will encourage students to engage in continuous learning and to deepen their knowledge by using numerous teaching tools such as, for example, up-to-date learning material, technical documentation and e-learning platforms for knowledge learned in lectures or during practical sessions. Students will also be encouraged to use search engines and the main online databases to find up-to-date information and scientific material and will thus develop the ability to independently acquire knowledge on the state of the art in a specific research field. Learning skills are assessed through continuous written and/or oral assessments during the learning activities, integrating the knowledge acquired during specific activities with that achieved through independent study and assessing the critical contribution demonstrated during practical and seminar activities. Finally, students’ ability to use suitable and advanced learning methods is also assessed during the writing of the dissertation for the final examination, which is supervised by the Supervisor and assessed by the degree board.
