Vision and Goals

Vision

The association "Academia-Meets-Industry e.V." (AMI), was founded in 2017. Since the beginning this association has been supporting the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Freiburg. The goal has been to establish a new study program "Regulatory Affairs and Drug Development – Learning from the industry. For the future." Within the Master's program of pharmaceutical sciences this specialized study program is intended to convey specific knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry of its processes, rules and regulations to students, thus providing them with better tools to pursue a future career in the industry. As a matter of fact pharmacy students today are no longer following the traditional path of working in a pharmacy, but are increasingly pushing into the pharmaceutical industry.

This new study program was introduced in winter 2018 and consists of various modules like clinical development and drug regulatory affairs, ethics and sustainability, patent law and product strategy, quality, media and communications. Most lecturers of the new study program are given by employees of large and smaller pharmaceutical companies. Students are Master students as well as PhD students of the University of Freiburg. In the last few years, there is an increasing number of students with a state exam in pharmacy as their first degree who study “regulatory affairs & drug development” to gain a master degree on top. In summer 2019 the first theses were written in pharmaceutical companies in the region around Freiburg. During recent years many students with a bachelor degree in lifesciences and other medical sciences have come to Freiburg to specifically study regulatory affairs and drug development with the goal of later on finding jobs in the pharmaceutical, biotech and lifescience industry.

Pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Freiburg is expected to become a "center of excellence" shaping the health care environment of Baden-Württemberg.

"Academia-Meets-Industry e.V." aims to support these efforts of the pharmaceutical institute at the University of Freiburg in both research and in teaching.

During recent years “Academia-Meets-Industry e.V.” has promoted various activities to draw attention to the academic initiatives taking place in Freiburg (new study program, Working fields in pharmaceutical industry). This attracted student from all over the country.

Furthermore, academia meets industry offers a network scholarship to make students gain better insights into the pharmaceutical industry to facilitate their future careers. The scholarships are for a fully year and offer some financial support as well as a mentorship by qualified people who work or have worked in the industry. These mentors support the students in decision making and finding their right and suitable place for future careers. This scholarship is so popular that every year the applications outnumber the available spots by far.

Goals of the association “Academia Meets Industry”

  • Stimulate communication between pharmacy and other students, representatives of pharmaceutical companies and representatives of the University of Freiburg
  • Connect networks of students to the networks of academia and industry
  • Encourage students to shape their own destiny
  • Eliminate reservation still existing between academia and industry

Insights to the pharmaceutical industry and how medicines are developed

Master of Science in ‘Regulatory Affairs & Drug Development’ at the University of Freiburg -

Are you interested in learning more about how the pharmaceutical industry develops innovative drugs and the regulatory process that goes with it? At the University of Freiburg, you can study regulatory affairs & drug development. The pharmaceutical institute in Freiburg offers a study program of 2 years to obtain a master in this discipline after you have obtained a bachelor degree in pharmaceutical sciences or other related disciplines.

Since 2021 you can also go for this master degree in only 1 year if you have the 2. or 3. state examination in pharmacy from any German university. In this case you will get approval for the knowledge obtained in the courses during the state exam studies. Hence, the master program is shortened and you can obtain the degree in 1 year (2 semesters) only.

This program and master degree is suitable for students who are interested to work in the pharmaceutical industry, in research organizations and with regulatory agencies. Courses in quality, drug development, regulatory affairs but also patent law, product strategy, digitalization, media competencies and sustainability will give students rich insights and knowledge to prepare them for a future career in the industry or related areas.

As the University of Freiburg is located at the border to Switzerland and France with many pharma companies and CROs within reach, students will be taught by senior industry people from known pharmaceutical companies. You will be able to conduct your master theses in one of these pharma firms involved in the program. Hence your professional networking begins right at the very start.

https://www.pharmazie-web.uni-freiburg.de