Core Skills for Biomanufacturing

Course description

The University of Victoria’s Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), in partnership with the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), is offering a transformative micro-credential program in Core Skills for Biomanufacturing (CSB) to address critical workforce shortages in British Columbia’s burgeoning bio-economy. The CSB micro-credentials will deliver targeted training in bioprocessing fundamentals, good manufacturing practices (GMP), cell culture, and bioreactor operations through a flexible hybrid model combining online learning and hands-on sessions at CASTL’s Richmond facility and UVic’s labs. Designed for students, career switchers, and industry professionals, the program addresses a pressing skills gap identified by BioTalent Canada, which projects an 8% job growth in the bio-economy (223,000 jobs by 2029) and highlights shortages in practical biomanufacturing skills among BC’s 12,000 predominantly small and medium-sized biotech firms.