- 10th graduation ceremony marks a decade of transforming biotech education into employability and innovation
- 70% of the graduating cohort are women, underscoring growing gender diversity in life sciences
- New-age programs in Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences and Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics added to curriculum
- More than 1,300 students trained since inception as Biocon Academy strengthens India’s biotech talent pipeline
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
BENGALURU, JUNE 8
A decade after embarking on a mission to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations, Biocon Academy celebrated a major milestone on Monday as it hosted its 10th Graduation Ceremony, conferring certificates on 156 students across five specialised biotechnology and biopharmaceutical programs.
The Bengaluru-based Centre of Excellence for Advanced Learning in Applied Biosciences, established as a CSR initiative of Biocon Limited, also highlighted a significant diversity achievement, with 70 per cent of the graduating class comprising women, reflecting the growing participation of women in India’s life sciences sector.
The graduating cohort represented seven batches from five industry-focused programs: the Biocon-KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences, Biocon-JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research Certificate Program in Global Regulatory Affairs, Biocon-Ramaiah Certificate Program in Quality Control Analytical, BITS-Biocon Certificate Program in Applied Industrial Microbiology, and Syngene-Ramaiah Certificate Program in Sterile Manufacturing.
The graduates were felicitated by Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chief Mentor of Biocon Academy and Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited; Dr E.V. Ramana Reddy, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the Karnataka Skill Development Authority; and Group Captain Prasanth Nair, Astronaut (Gaganyaatri), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Seven outstanding students received Gold Medals for Academic Excellence in recognition of their academic achievements.
Since its establishment in 2013, Biocon Academy has trained more than 1,300 students, equipping them with a blend of scientific knowledge, technical competencies and hands-on industry exposure that enables them to transition seamlessly into biotechnology and biopharmaceutical careers.
Highlighting the Academy’s evolving role in shaping future talent, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said: “Biocon Academy has played a pivotal role in building industry-ready talent for the biotechnology sector by combining academic rigor with real-world application. As science evolves, so must skilling. With the launch of new programs in Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences and Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Biocon Academy continues to align its curriculum with emerging industry needs. Our graduates are equipped not just to participate in the industry, but to shape its future through innovation and impact.”
The introduction of new programs in Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences and Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics signals the Academy’s focus on emerging technologies and future workforce requirements in the rapidly evolving global biotech landscape.
Bindu Ajit, AVP and Program Dean, Biocon Academy, said: “Biocon Academy is committed to developing a future-ready biotechnology workforce that can drive innovation and strengthen the biopharmaceutical ecosystem. We are confident that our graduates will make meaningful contributions to research, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare, while reinforcing India’s global leadership in biotechnology.”
The event also reflected the strength of Biocon Academy’s global and national academic collaborations. Dr Mohamed Abousalem, President of Keck Graduate Institute, California, joined the ceremony virtually, while representatives from BITS Pilani, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, and the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology attended in person.
Among the graduating programs, the Biocon-KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences produced the largest number of graduates with 54 students, followed by the Syngene-Ramaiah Certificate Program in Sterile Manufacturing with 41 graduates. The remaining graduates came from Global Regulatory Affairs, Quality Control Analytical and Applied Industrial Microbiology programs.
As India’s biotechnology sector expands its global footprint, institutions such as Biocon Academy are increasingly becoming critical talent incubators, ensuring that graduates enter the workforce equipped with both scientific excellence and practical industry skills.
