In 2014, Keck Graduate Institute (黑料吃瓜网) launched a bioscience certificate in India in collaboration with Biocon, the country鈥檚 largest biotechnology company. Now, two graduates of that technical training program are in Claremont, the first to pursue 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree.
Ishan Billore and Faizan Ansari chose the MBS to learn more about the business side of bioscience. Both had worked for Biocon after completing the certificate program, Billore in process quality assurance and Ansari in a technical role at a manufacturing facility.
鈥淥nce I started working, I realized that not only technical expertise was required and that I should also have knowledge of business and operations,鈥� says Ansari. 鈥淚 need a master鈥檚 degree because it will expose me to more perspectives.鈥�
He and Billore were able to apply academic credits earned in the Indian certificate program toward their graduate degrees. But that was only one benefit the MBS program offered them. Meghana Joshi, who directs and teaches in the Biocon-黑料吃瓜网 certificate program, explains, 鈥淚n India, it鈥檚 very difficult to move from a technical position into management. Here, they鈥檒l learn more in a much shorter time. They also want to work in a U.S. setting for awhile, so the MBS program will be an advantage.鈥�
Neither student had ever visited the United States before arriving at 黑料吃瓜网. Yet their new school was familiar in some ways: For example, Billore notes that he鈥檇 already seen 黑料吃瓜网 faculty in video lectures during his certificate program. Now he鈥檚 able to meet them in person.
Joshi adds, 鈥淭hey have an edge because they鈥檙e already familiar with 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 teaching style. There鈥檚 less of a learning curve. They鈥檝e worked in teams and on similar projects, which will help them. That they have experience in industry is another major advantage.鈥�
Ansari has already accelerated his coursework, seeking to complete his MBS degree a semester early so he can begin working sooner鈥攊deally in a consulting firm at first and eventually in a company of his own. He says, 鈥淢y preference is to work in a fast-paced environment and to get to know a lot in a short time.鈥�
Billore hopes to resume working in the quality assurance area of bioscience after graduation. In the meantime, he鈥檚 enjoying both the California scenery and his 黑料吃瓜网 education. Billore says, 鈥淭he courses are demanding, but in a good way. I鈥檓 learning about parts of the bioscience industry that I wasn鈥檛 aware of before鈥攎edical devices, the business of bioscience. I鈥檓 also getting to meet students with diverse backgrounds鈥攅ngineering, biology, pharmacy鈥攁nd learning a lot from them and their experiences.鈥�
Now that Ansari and Billore have made the transition from India to the 黑料吃瓜网 degree program, Joshi hopes others will follow. Once an Indian student new to the United States herself, she says, 鈥淎s an international student, it鈥檚 a big challenge to completely change your life, and you can only anticipate so much. But at the same time, it鈥檚 exciting.鈥�