Biotechnology Degree (2nd Ed. )

The Access to the Biotechnology degree does not require prior specific training. Students can access if they fulfil the Access requirements established by the regulation on force. Notwithstanding, for the access to the degree it is recommended to have carried out Scientific- Technological or Health sciences training. Moreover, it would be desirable for the future student of the Biotechnology Degree to possess the following personal and academic skills:
· Real problem-solving interest.
· Calculus skills.
· Analysis and synthesis skills.
· Technological curiosity.
· Work perseverance and responsibility.
· Teamwork skills.
· Oral and written expression skills.
· Linguistic Competence in English.

The Access to the Biotechnology degree does not require prior specific training. Students can access if they fulfil the Access requirements established by the regulation on force. Notwithstanding, for the access to the degree it is recommended to have carried out Scientific- Technological or Health sciences training. Moreover, it would be desirable for the future student of the Biotechnology Degree to possess the following personal and academic skills:
· Real problem-solving interest.
· Calculus skills.
· Analysis and synthesis skills.
· Technological curiosity.
· Work perseverance and responsibility.
· Teamwork skills.
· Oral and written expression skills.
· Linguistic Competence in English.

· Webpage:
https://www.usc.gal/es/centro/facultad-biologia
· Information and promotion initiatives for the degrees taught at the centre.
· Actions such as the creation of news and reports, the creation of promotional content on the faculty's website, or the enhancement of information disseminated through the most common search engines, in virtual press or on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).
· Support for students of the SGC Process Manual of the Faculty of Biology. This process organises those aimed at guiding the student on any issue that may be relevant, such as information on professional opportunities or the possibility of reinforcing their training through mobility.
The biology faculty does not have a tutorial action plan (PAT) on the faculty level, but the plan is being developed at the moment.

When a degree suspension occurs, the USC guarantees the adequate development of teachings that were initiated by their students until its suspension. For that, the Government Council approves the criteria related with the admission of new degree entry registration and the gradual suspension of teaching impartation, among others.
If the suspended degree is substituted for a similar one —modifying the nature of the degree—, the new degree regulations will set the conditions to facilitate students the continuity of the new degree’s studies. These regulations will also set subject equivalences in both programs.

The entrance tests to the three Galician universities (Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University (ABAU) and for people over 25 and 45 years old) are organized by the Interuniversity Commission of Galicia (CIUG). To apply for a place, students must meet one of the following access requirements established in article 3 of RD 412/2014:
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass the university entrance test.
• Meet the requirements for access to university in the educational systems of Member States of the European Union or other States with which Spain has signed international agreements on this matter.
• Have passed the university entrance test for those over 25 years of age, for those over 40 years of age with work or professional experience or the test for those over 45 years of age.
• Possess a degree in higher vocational training, teaching of plastic arts and design or higher sports technician, or equivalent qualifications.
• Have an official university degree, master's degree or a title corresponding to the previous organization of university education (university diploma, technical architect, technical engineer, graduate, architect, engineer) or equivalent titles.
• Have completed partial foreign or Spanish university studies, or who, upon completing foreign university studies, have not obtained their homologation in Spain and wish to continue studies at a Spanish university. In this case, it will be an essential requirement that the corresponding university recognize at least 30 ECTS credits.
• Be able to access the university according to educational regulations prior to Organic Law 8/2013, not included in the previous sections.

In general, there are the following access routes to the University:
- University access test (ABAU) Once you have finished high school, in order to access a university degree, you must pass the Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University.
https://ciug.gal/gal/abau
- Access from Vocational Training If you have an official title of higher vocational training technician, higher plastic arts and design technician or higher sports technician, or titles, diplomas or studies declared equivalent or approved in the Spanish educational system, you can access to study a degree at the university. Applications will be ordered according to the average grade of the higher technical degree completed out of a maximum of 10. If you wish to improve your admission grade for degree studies, you can take the voluntary part of the ABAU test.
https://www.usc.es/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/oiu/desca…
- Access test for people over 25 years of age This test can be taken by people who are over 25 years of age in the year in which the test is held and who do not have any academic qualifications that give access to the university through another means.
- People over 45 years of age Those over 45 years of age can study official degree qualifications after passing an adapted entrance test.
- Access over 40 through validation of work experience.
For the selection of the candidates, a Qualifying Court will be established according to the proposal of the Faculty of Biology. The level of professional qualification required of the applicant will be that corresponding to the qualifications of the professional families and levels of the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP), prepared by the National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL). On the part of the University, the following list of professional families and levels with access to the degree in Biotechnology has been established:
List of professional families and levels with access to the degree
• Food industries: Level 3
• Chemistry: Level 2 and 3.
• Health: Level 2 and 3.
• Safety and Environment: Level 2 and 3.

Comp01 - Students must have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their field of study) to make judgements that include a reflection about relevant topics of social, scientific or ethic nature.
Comp02 - Students must be able to debate and transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions both in written and oral format, pertaining to Biotechnology to specialised and non-specialised/general audiences.
Comp03 - Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake posterior studies with a high degree of autonomy.
Comp04 - Students must know how to apply theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the degree in a professional manner and be competent posing and solving problems, as well as, in the creation/defence of arguments, both in academic and professional areas related to innovation and biotechnological industry.
Comp05 - Study and understand autonomously, with time and resources management, new knowledge and techniques in Biotechnology, and acquire the ability to work in teams.
Comp06 - Recognise the criteria for scaling biotechnological processes based on the data obtained in basic experimentation on a laboratory scale, taking into account economic parameters and rationalising the use of matter and energy.
Comp07 - Have an integrated vision of the R&D&i process and know how to describe the basic business concepts, applying them to the biotechnology company.
Comp08 - Clearly appreciate the ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of the professional activity to be carried out, as well as know and apply biotechnological risk assessment criteria.

A/S01 - Think in an integrated manner and approach problems from different perspectives with critical thinking.
A/S02 - Look for, process, analyse/interpret and synthesize relevant information and results from different sources and draw conclusions in topics related to Biotechnology.
A/S03 - Organise and plan the workload.
A/S04 - Interpret experimental results and identify the consistent and inconsistent elements.
A/S05 - Work in teams.
A/S06 - Maintain an ethical commitment, as well as a commitment to equality and inclusiveness.
A/S07 - Initiative, entrepreneurial spirit and adaptation to new situations (resilience).
A/S08 - Leadership and team management.
A/S09 - Know how to identify the different types of viruses, microorganisms and animal and vegetable tissues with application in the field of Biotechnology.
A/S10 - Know how to analyse data and interpret experimental results pertaining to the areas of Biotechnology.
A/S11 - Understand and know how to apply the physical and chemical principles of biological processes with application in Biotechnology, as well as the main tools employed to investigate them.
A/S12 - Know how to apply the instrumental techniques and work protocols in a laboratory, applying the policies and techniques pertaining to safety and hygiene, waste management and quality.
A/S13 - Know how to obtain and interpret information from the main data bases (biological, omics, bibliographic) and employ bioinformatic tools.
A/S14 - Know how to analyse and design biotechnological industrial processes and apply them to the improvement of processes and products on the basis of sustainability and quality management criteria.

K01 - Know the most important concepts, methods and findings of the different branches of Biotechnology.
K02 - Have an integrated vision of the functioning of cells and organisms, including its biomolecules, metabolism, gene expression, relationship among cellular compartments, as well as perception, signalling and communication mechanisms.
K03 - Know about the balances and transferences of matter and energy, applied thermodynamics and separation operations, as well as knowing how to apply them to solve engineering problems.
K04 - Know the techniques that allow to determine the properties of proteins and be able to analyse and modify their structure according to its application to Biotechnology.
K05- Know the molecular bases and the handling techniques of gene information in microorganisms, animals and plants, and understand its applications to the different biotechnological areas.
K06 - Know the fundamentals of cellular and tissue bioengineering, the therapeutical possibilities of regenerative medicine and its current limitations, both technical and ethical.
K07 - Know the basics of quality control and business economic management, as well as legal and ethical aspects of biotechnology.

The bachelor's degree in biotechnology offers multidisciplinary training that enables graduates to face multiple professional itineraries both in the academic and industrial field, as well as aspects pertaining to social, legal and ethic of Biotechnology.

The career opportunities available to the Biotechnology graduates include a wide range of areas in which they can develop their work, which would be organised as follows:
· Teaching, both in high schools and universities, as well as scientific dissemination.
· Research, development and innovation, both in the public and private sector, in hospitals, research institutes, companies or universities. Within this field we can distinguish four main areas:
1. Health: encompasses every aspect pertaining to human and animal health, from development and production of diagnostic tests to medicine, vaccines, regenerative therapies, etc.
2. Agro-alimentary: its focus is on the production and improvement of food, including production processes, food safety, aquaculture or genetic modification of plants and animals.
3. Industrial: includes every industrial process in which biotechnology is applied, such as the engineering of proteins or the production systems based on the use of microorganisms, animal and vegetal cells.
4. Environmental: encompasses from the detection of pollutants to the development and implementation of industrial waste purification or repurposing.
· Development and research management, business management and direction, patents and intellectual property management, knowledge management, technological surveillance, advice and consulting, design of marketing and commercialization strategies.