Last modified: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
State award to help students learn life sciences management skills at Indiana University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Bloomington Continuing Studies was awarded $45,000 as part of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' Strategic Skills Initiative, a workforce development program introduced last year.
The funds will allow 50 students to complete IU Bloomington Continuing Studies' Managing in the Life Sciences certificate program over the next two years, with 25 students beginning in September and 25 beginning the following September. The certificate program consists of five courses: Introduction to the Life Sciences Industry, Teamwork and Communication in the Life Sciences Industry; Managing Projects in the Life Sciences Industry; Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Industry and Organizational Development in the Life Sciences Industry. These courses are designed to prepare mid- and upper-level managers to build or further their careers in this thriving industry.
"The manufacturing process in life sciences companies requires managers who excel in a variety of technical areas, from project management to regulatory affairs. We're pleased this grant award recognized that our program addresses these and other crucial skills for life sciences managers," says Jim Shea, director of Professional Development Programs for Bloomington Continuing Studies.
Ron White, director of Bloomington Continuing Studies said the grant will allow Bloomington Continuing Studies to not only help students further their careers, but contribute to the economic development of the area by providing the program as part of the division's professional development curriculum.
The state's Strategic Skills Initiative is a program that seeks to identify occupational and skill shortages, and then fund grants to local consortia to develop solutions to address the shortages. The $45,000 awarded to Bloomington Continuing Studies is part of a larger grant given to the new regional workforce board on behalf of a consortium of workforce and economic development officials from the state's economic growth Region 8.
"The Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership applauds the investment of Strategic Skills Initiative funds to our Region 8 Workforce Board and IU Bloomington Continuing Studies to offer supervisory training through the Managing in the Life Sciences program," said Steve Bryant, director of the Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership. "Region 8 will be greatly impacted as program graduates find jobs at life sciences firms in the area."
IU Bloomington Continuing Studies provides opportunities for adults to engage in lifelong learning. Programs include General Studies degrees, the Returning Student Center, diverse noncredit courses in Lifelong Learning and Professional Development, Mini University and Leadership Bloomington-Monroe County.
For more information, contact Lisa Herrmann, 812-855-1182 and ljherrma@indiana.edu.
