Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology: a playground for innovation

EADA Business School is proud to train its students in cutting-edge disciplines, as evidenced by their Master in FinTech & Business Analytics. The Master in Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Management follows this trend by preparing its graduates for a career in one of the world’s most exciting industries. 

Although most associated with pharmaceutical breakthroughs such as vaccines and advances on current therapies, biotech has also expanded into biofuels and agricultural revolutions. With new technologies such as gene editing and crossovers with machine learning on the horizon, the market is set to double by 2030. 

EADA offers a deep study of the latest developments in the pharmaceutical, biotech and life science space, contextualizing it with the industry’s business side. Students also learn about the industry’s difficulties, like regulation, pricing, and funding projects that may take years to generate revenue.

EADA also provides students with the soft skills it takes to succeed in the pharma and biotech world. This blend of science, industry awareness, and leadership skills combine to produce graduates who can become managers, consultants, and entrepreneurs.

What you’ll learn on the Master in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Management

The majority of EADA’s Master in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology is spent on core courses that include: 

  • Drug Discovery & Development / Portfolio Management,
  • Industrial & Operations Dynamics in Life Sciences,
  • Health Economics,
  • Market Access and Pricing,
  • Professional Concentration in Medical Devices,
  • Professional Concentration in eHealth.

However, as EADA aims to bridge the gap between the technical side of the sector and solid business acumen, the core courses also cover the following:

  • Strategy
  • Corporate Financial Management,
  • Marketing and Sales,
  • Supply Chain.

The broad approach of the degree helps to fill the talent gap that is often present in highly specialized areas such as biotech. Leaders who are able to speak the languages of business and science are currently in short supply. The few who exist are essential to guide companies from research to development and all the way to marketing.

Putting theory into practice with the case study methodology

EADA focuses on case studies from the pharmaceutical industry to bring course content to life. Yuhui, originally from Shanghai, sees great value in this approach. “By preparing so many cases, you will try to put yourself in the shoes of the manager, the entrepreneur, so you will also grow a lot.” (00:45)

This active learning format is a departure from the traditional university practice of lectures and note-taking. By solving real-world issues from the life sciences sector, students are far more engaged and receptive to what careers in biotechnology demand.

The Practical Final Project is an excellent example of the learning-by-doing approach. Students work as business consultants, drawing on all the knowledge from the core courses to solve industry-specific management problems. Working as a group, they define the problem, prioritize key issues, run analyses, and then synthesize their findings to make recommendations.

A laser focus on leadership qualities

Aware of the multifaceted skill set modern leaders need, EADA runs a dedicated Leadership Development Program as part of the course. Delivered on the school’s Training Campus in Collbató, the module leads a holistic study of personal and professional skills under four guiding principles:

  • Leading oneself, 
  • Leading in teams,
  • Leading across the organization,
  • Leading oneself in society.

The program is delivered in a boot camp style and involves fun physical activities as well as workshops on decision-making, critical thinking, and flexibility. These soft leadership skills are universally relevant to management, therefore, applicable to the pharmaceutical sector and beyond. The outside activities may seem like play, but they give plenty to learn from. “I really enjoyed the outdoor activity during the leadership module in Collbató because it forces you to try to get out of your comfort zone. You can also learn your weaknesses,” Yuhui comments. (01:16)

Students consistently point to the Leadership Development Program as one of the most impactful elements of the course. As a microcosm of the experience, Lora Duro commented: “When I started the program, I think I was really shy and kind of scared of public speaking, but the soft skills modules at Collbató really help you get over those fears.” (01:38)

Student life on the Master in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Management

EADA welcomes a diverse cohort to its Barcelona campus. While most students come from a life sciences background, the Master in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Management also includes students from business administration and engineering. The blend of perspectives inside the classroom helps to enrich the learning experience beyond the course content. 

EADA has designed the program to promote that exchange. Yuhui explains that through the Leadership Development Program, “you will get closer to your classmates, you will know how to collaborate with others.” (01:32) Such strong connections are impossible to replicate in less intensive environments, such as online programs. Upon graduation, this camaraderie manifests itself in a ready-made network as you move into your career.

Spain’s second-largest city is great for launching a career in biotech or pharma. With leading biotech companies Roche, Novartis, and Bayer present in the city, it opens up various career paths for graduates.

A dedicated career service

In addition to the course content and networking, EADA also provides a career service that is highly rated by students, including Nicholas Valassina from Italy. “The career service was very useful in the first place to adapt my CV to the different industries I was interested in. So starting from August, I will be in a Junior Project Manager position in a startup company here in Barcelona.” (02:02) Nicholas’s promising career in biotech is just one of many success stories that the alumni network can boast. 

To sum up the experience, we’ll return to Nicholas for the last word: “EADA woke up the business person that was in me and I didn’t know about, and helped it flourish into the business world.” (02:27)

If you’d like more insights into the EADA Business School experience, contact a past student on the MASTERGRADSCHOOLS Ambassadors Page.