Yonsei University’s K-NIBRT (Director General: Gyoonhee Hanoon-hee, hereinafter “K-NIBRT”) held the opening ceremony for the 2nd cohort of the ‘K-NIBRT Bio-Health Academy Bio-All’ on April 6, officially launching a three-month, practice-oriented training program in bioprocessing.

‘Bio-All’ is part of the Bio-Health Academy initiative jointly promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. As the bio-health sector was designated as a new advanced industry by the Ministry of Employment and Labor in 2025, K-NIBRT aims to establish a national-level system for cultivating specialized talent.

This training program is characterized by its advanced curriculum, upgraded to meet domestic industry needs based on the global bioprocess training model of Ireland’s NIBRT. Rather than simply delivering theoretical knowledge, the program is structured around hands-on training that mirrors actual biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes, progressing through theory, practical training, and industry-linked projects.

The first four-week didactic training will be conducted at the K-NIBRT lecture facilities located on Yonsei University’s International Campus in Songdo, Incheon. The curriculum is structured in stages covering 'Biotechnology Fundamentals – Manufacturing Process – Quality – Next-Generation Biotech – Biopharmaceutical Regulation.' 

Participants will intensively study core industry-relevant knowledge, including biopharmaceutical regulatory affairs and international harmonization, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), upstream and downstream process principles, bioanalytical techniques, QC (Quality Control), and QbD (Quality by Design).

The following four-week practical training will take place at the K-NIBRT Practical Training Center. The center is equipped with integrated, industry-level facilities covering the full bioprocess workflow—from upstream and downstream processes to QC analysis—making it one of the few such infrastructures in Korea. Trainees will directly operate equipment and handle samples, gaining hands-on experience equivalent to that of industry professionals.

The industry-linked project component will be conducted in collaboration with the global life sciences company Sartorius Korea Biotech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Sartorius”). For approximately three weeks, trainees will learn industry technologies and workflows in real time at Sartorius’s Global R&D Center in Pangyo, further strengthening their practical capabilities.

In addition, K-NIBRT operates a dedicated faculty mentorship system, assigning 10 professors to provide one-on-one support for trainees’ career planning, employment strategies, and competency development. Each mentor offers customized guidance on company matching strategies and skill development based on individual career goals. This “university–industry integrated professorship system” is rare in conventional employment training programs and is expected to significantly enhance job placement outcomes in the biopharmaceutical industry.

During the training period, the program will also hold two “Career Planning Seminars,” and after completion, it will support participants through a 'Practical Employment Boot Camp,' actively assisting them in exploring career paths and preparing for employment in the bio-health industry.

At the opening ceremony, a “Gowning Ceremony” symbolizing entry into biomanufacturing workplaces was held, strengthening participants’ sense of belonging and professionalism. Jeong Mi-sook, Director of Vocational Skills Development at the Incheon Employment and Welfare Plus Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, attended the ceremony, encouraged the trainees, and pledged continued support for the program.

Director Gyoonhee Han stated, “K-NIBRT Bio-All is a program that integrates all essential components required in the field—ranging from theory and practice to processes and equipment, as well as industry projects and mentoring,” adding, “It will establish itself as a leading educational model for cultivating practical professionals needed by the bio-health industry.”

Following the successful completion of the 1st cohort in February, k plans to continue recruiting for the 3rd and 4th cohorts based on the outcomes of the 2nd cohort running from April to June. The 3rd cohort will recruit trainees in July and operate from August to October, while the 4th cohort will recruit in September and run from October to December.

Source: Edu.donga