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Metropolitan Community College is launching a new biotechnology program designed to prepare students for careers in one of the fastest-growing industries in the country.The program will give students hands-on training for jobs across fields like healthcare, agriculture, renewable fuels and manufacturing.Biotechnology focuses on using living systems or organisms to create products that improve the lives of people and animals.“It’s basically when you take living cells or living systems and you make a product,” said Jackie Clifford, director of MCC’s biotechnology program. “Products that help people, companion pets, livestock, things like that.”College leaders say the program was designed with input from local biotechnology companies to ensure students are learning skills that employers need.“We’ve been able to identify the basic knowledge, skills and abilities that entry-level technicians need to provide that trained workforce,” Clifford said.Students in the program will train in a newly built laboratory space designed to resemble real-world biotechnology workplaces. The facility includes specialized equipment and a clean-room style environment where contamination control is critical.“The design of the space and the workflow really resembles more like what they would see in industry than a typical science lab or classroom,” Clifford said.Industry leaders say programs like this are essential as biotechnology continues to expand and companies look for skilled workers.“Biotechnology provides a stable, meaningful career that has positive growth,” said Jim Walla, a Process Development Engineer at Evonik. “The growth potential there is impressive.”The biotechnology program is expected to launch this fall and will offer both credit and non-credit options for students interested in entering the field.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Metropolitan Community College is launching a new biotechnology program designed to prepare students for careers in one of the fastest-growing industries in the country.
The program will give students hands-on training for jobs across fields like healthcare, agriculture, renewable fuels and manufacturing.
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Biotechnology focuses on using living systems or organisms to create products that improve the lives of people and animals.
“It’s basically when you take living cells or living systems and you make a product,” said Jackie Clifford, director of MCC’s biotechnology program. “Products that help people, companion pets, livestock, things like that.”
College leaders say the program was designed with input from local biotechnology companies to ensure students are learning skills that employers need.
“We’ve been able to identify the basic knowledge, skills and abilities that entry-level technicians need to provide that trained workforce,” Clifford said.
Students in the program will train in a newly built laboratory space designed to resemble real-world biotechnology workplaces. The facility includes specialized equipment and a clean-room style environment where contamination control is critical.
“The design of the space and the workflow really resembles more like what they would see in industry than a typical science lab or classroom,” Clifford said.
Industry leaders say programs like this are essential as biotechnology continues to expand and companies look for skilled workers.
“Biotechnology provides a stable, meaningful career that has positive growth,” said Jim Walla, a Process Development Engineer at Evonik. “The growth potential there is impressive.”
The biotechnology program is expected to launch this fall and will offer both credit and non-credit options for students interested in entering the field.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
