A. Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%.

B. Late Assessment Submission Policy

5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.

• Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
• Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0. Extensions:

• Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.
• Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.
• Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE

Late submissions will be accepted for: 

• Assessment 1. Management and Quality Management Plan
• Assessment 2. Commercialisation Strategy, which are written tasks with a specified due date.

C. Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.

A. Delivery

This unit is delivered through a self-paced, blended learning model supported by the unit convenors. Learning materials include recorded lectures, with most presentations provided by industry contributors, together with guided activities and applied project work.

There are no scheduled weekly lectures. Instead, a small number of update or consultation meetings may be scheduled during the semester at times convenient for students. All learning materials, activities, and communication are provided through iLearn.

Group-based learning and simulated biotechnology context

This unit uses a group-based learning approach built around a simulated biotechnology industry context. Students will form their own groups early in the teaching period and will work together throughout the unit as a fictitious biotechnology company. Each group will be required to:

• Propose and agree on a company name
• Define a fictitious biotechnology product
• Operate within a simulated biotechnology management structure, including role-play of professional positions typically found in biotechnology companies (for example, management, quality, regulatory, or commercial roles)

Group sizes will depend on enrolment numbers and will be confirmed prior to the start of the teaching period. Group formation details and expectations will be communicated via iLearn.

Through this structure, students will engage in authentic role-based decision-making, collaborative planning, and applied problem-solving that reflect real-world biotechnology management environments. All major assessment tasks are aligned with this simulated company framework and require coordinated group input alongside individual reflective components.

This unit comprises three integrated modules:

Module 1: Management Practices in Biotechnology

• Lecture 1: Introduction to Biotechnology Project Management
• Lecture 2: Leadership and Team Management in Biotechnology
• Lecture 3: Financial Planning for Biotechnology Companies
• Lecture 4: Case study

Module 2: Principles of Quality Management in Biotechnology

• Lecture 1: Introduction to Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Lecture 2: Regulatory Frameworks in Biotechnology
• Lecture 3: Quality Management
• Lecture 4: Project Management: Risk Management

Module 3: Commercialisation Strategy for Biotechnology

• Lecture 1: Phases of Commercialising a Biotechnology Product
• Lecture 2: Intellectual Property Strategies in Biotechnology
• Lecture 3: Regulatory Pathways to Market Approval in Biotechnology
• Lecture 4: Go-to-Market Strategies and Lifecycle Management
• Lecture 5: Case study  

B. Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. If you have queries for the unit convenor, you can: 

• Post your question on the iLearn discussion board (preferred for general queries that may benefit other students)
• Send a private message to the unit convenor via iLearn

Please check your university email and iLearn regularly to ensure you do not miss important updates.