Title : Innovative educational strategies in tissue engineering: Integrating research into higher education
Abstract:
The rapid advancements in tissue engineering demands an adaptive educational curriculum to prepare the next generation of professionals for impactful careers in science and innovation. At the University of Applied Sciences, we adjust our educational curriculum by integrating applied research into the educational program. The integration is accomplished by a cross-talk driven approach between curriculum developers and lectures that are directly participating in research projects. This ensures that students gain hands-on experience, work with real-work case studies and are taught by educators that are actively participating in tissue engineering-related research projects.
This cross-talk-driven approach has already shaped our current curriculum including cell culturing practicals, tissue engineering courses, short research projects and specialized minors such as Regenerative Medicine and Disease, Immunology and Food, Health, and Innovation. Building on this foundation, we are currently developing a new interdisciplinary minor: Organ-on-Chips. This minor will integrate knowledge of complex cell culture systems, high-throughput organ-on-chip technology, chemical analysis of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites, and bioinformatics, providing students with interdisciplinary insights drawn directly from our research facilities.
This session will illustrate the cross-talk between applied science research projects and educational strategies for tissue engineering. Afterwards there will be time for an interactive discussion about how students can obtain the most relevant education and which hands-on training will equip them for one of the most innovative frontiers in biomedical research.