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Overview

The MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law Programme is being offered by the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University. The programme is designed to provide knowledge and develop skills for those occupied in public or private services dealing with the consultation, management, studies of Biotechnological products and processes and willing to be involved in Bioeconomy.

The programme is interdisciplinary and it has primarily a practical purpose. It provides legal and management expertise, directly usable in all groups of scholars, those with legal education, business and economical background and those trained in relevant scientific and technological disciplines. The programme is directed to students and executives who desire to expand their specialization in the relevant fields. The courses are taught exclusively in English. The programme is also available in distance learning mode.

The Programme aims are:

  • The provision of knowledge and skills based on the most modern and innovative developments in Biotechnology, directly linked to the field of Bioeconomy
  • The understanding and implementation of the basic regulatory rules and laws governing the production and promotion of biotechnological products, as well as the provision of services directly related to biotechnological applications in the fields of Biomedicine, Genetics and Pharmacy
  • The understanding and implementation of key regulatory rules and legislation related to biosafety issues for humans and the environment
  • The provision of the basic technical and economic knowledge necessary to manage and promote biotechnological products and services
  • The provision of interdisciplinary education in the field of Bioeconomy, which at the same time allows the development of all the skills required in the modern labor market at the international level

Official Government Gazette:

Re-establishment PDF (in Greek)

Regulation PDF (in Greek)

Key facts
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Start date: November 2024 (Academic year 2024-25, winter semester)

Application deadline: 31 August 2024 extended until 20 September 2024 (non-Greek applicants) / 30 September 2024 (Greek applicants) or until places are filled

Campus: Thermi, Thessaloniki

Duration/Mode: 1,5 years full-time (non-experimental dissertation) or 2 years full-time (experimental dissertation) or part-time (the duration is doubled) / weekends (also available in distance learning mode)

Molecular Ecology/Molecular Biology Lab: Equipped with state-of-the-art, modern equipment for advanced research

Taught language: English

Entry requirements: An undergraduate degree from a recognised University

Language requirements: IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), TOEFL (IBT, 95 and above) or TOEIC (745 and above) score, or a recognised by the Greek State certificate of proficiency in English of C1 level

Fees: 2,700€ (total) Excellence awards for the academic year 2024-2025 (check the Fees & Financing section for details)

How to apply: Please follow the instructions at the applications page

Programme announcement: ENG | GR

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Who can apply

Entry requirements: An undergraduate degree from a recognised University

Language requirements: IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), TOEFL (IBT, 95 and above) or TOEIC (745 and above) score, or a recognised by the Greek State certificate of proficiency in English of C1 level

Course content

Core courses

The core courses ensure that students acquire practical knowledge and skills directly related to their career aspirations.

First Term

The course provides students with a clear understanding of the basic concepts of modern biology necessary to evaluate biotechnology, biosafety and bioethics issues related to human and animal health, and the environment, which will be discussed in the respective courses. Students will be taught the molecular mechanisms governing organisms, biotic and abiotic environmental factors that interact, and will examine the complex issue of sustainable development and its dimensions – environment, economy and society. Specifically, the following topics will be discussed. a) Life (from molecules to societies, evolving biological systems), b) Environment (Definition, Species, Ecosystems, Biosphere), c) Abiotic factors- The Molecular Biology of the Environment (Molecular Ecology), d) Systems Biology, Biodiversity, Genetic Modification, Related Genetic Modification Techniques, e) Sustainable Development, the three dimensions (Environment, Economy and Society).

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental principles of modern economic theory, to general principles of economic management and to dimensions of organizational mindset related to economic knowledge and processes. Students will also acquire the tools for making economic decisions in the agricultural sector and in the field of bioeconomy. The course combines theory and practice, paying attention to the daily practical problems faced by managers of agro-biotech product and service production companies.

This course’s objective is to provide basic knowledge about the legal and ethical framework pertaining to the management of life as biological phenomenon. The rapid development of biomedicine and biotechnology, during the last four decades, created new areas of human intervention in living Nature, including reproduction control and assistance, artificial life support, revealing of genetic information, genome modification etc. Soon, the need for regulating norms became obvious, in order to benefit from innovation and also to avoid risks emerging from that wide range of new technological options and possibilities. In that view, Bioethics provides the fundamental principles for any regulation in that field, such as the principles of human dignity, of personal autonomy and human rights, of environmental protection etc. On the other hand, Biolaw contains laws, judicial and administrative decisions, related to the management of life, that already exist in the EU and worldwide. The course emphasizes on European normative framework, and analyzes its basic structure, instruments, and institutions.

The aim of the course is to understand the basic concepts of the circular economy, as well as the principles on which its implementation is based. Students will be trained in designing solutions that prevent waste production altogether, rather than waste generation and its subsequent treatment, and in the use of innovative, environmentally friendly technical solutions for converting waste from production processes into useful secondary resources. The real ‘value’ of waste and secondary materials and products will be effectively assessed. The difference between the linear closed loop feedback systems that currently dominate versus the cyclical feedback systems proposed by the Bioeconomy will be highlighted, and case studies of feedback-rich case studies will be analyzed. Finally, the legal and institutional framework governing the implementation of circular economy policies in Greece and the EU will be presented.

Agriculture and the bioeconomy are increasingly being called upon to interpret and meet the needs and demands of modern consumers and producers, due to the growing ethical and safety issues arising from certain biotechnological applications. An understanding of the basic principles and tools of business management and marketing is the main objective of the course. Students will gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills on the operational and strategic policies of business management and integrated marketing mix. Through further case studies and contemporary examples, students will apply the theoretical concepts discussed in the course to real-life examples from the field of bioeconomy and sustainable agriculture.

Second Term

The course focuses on biomedical applications, presenting the current legal framework in the EU, which governs a) patient/doctor relationships (medical law), b) clinical research, c) issues related to termination of life, d) assisted reproduction, e) processing of sensitive health and genetic data and f) issues related to human genetic enhancement. New issues, such as biobanking, and implant technology will also be explored. Key instruments such as the Oviedo Convention and EU regulations on clinical trials and data protection will be analyzed, as well as important case law of the European Court of Human Rights on assisted reproduction and end-of-life issues. Students will have the opportunity to discuss case studies in all of the above areas.

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge on the conception, design, organization and management of new businesses. The course will introduce students to concepts and principles that are fundamental to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and provide skills necessary to identify business opportunities and create new businesses with potential for economic growth and financing. Note that the course is designed to complement students’ education in Agribusiness and Bioeconomics with a focus on the role of innovation in the development of agri-food entrepreneurship.

The course will introduce students to the basic concepts of biomedical engineering (Red Biotechnology) which includes technologies and methods related to medicine, such as the design and development of new drugs, vaccines, antibiotics, molecular diagnostics and new therapeutic strategies. Students will be taught the methodologies for developing cell and gene therapies, regenerative therapies and drugs based on biological molecules, such as therapeutic antibodies. In addition, the course will cover the principles of current methodologies used in this field, including genetic engineering for the treatment of diseases through genetic manipulation, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and metagenomics technologies. Finally, recent developments on the role of microbes in health and disease will be discussed in relation to specific applications.

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of biotechnology in all areas of application, they will be introduced to the different types of biotechnology and will acquire knowledge of relevant scientific concepts such as bioeconomy, which is used in international forums. In particular, topics related to biotechnological methods used in the fields of Industrial, Agricultural and Marine Biotechnology will be covered, such as methodologies already applied in the production of specific biotechnological products such as biopolymers, enzymes, biochemicals, food additives as well as in the production of molecular biomarkers, Genetic Engineering, Genetically Modified Organisms, and agriculture. They will also become familiar with the concepts of “Cell Factory”, “Synthetic Biology”, “Biorefinery”, and “Bioenergy”.

Elective Courses for the Second Term (1 of the following)

The following list is indicative and is continually renewed. Elective courses may vary from year to year depending on current interest and student demand. Students select a course from the list below based on their interests and current and future career orientation:

The aim of the course is to analyze the basic European legislation and case law on patents in biological applications. Patents provide the main commercial incentive for applied research projects in biology and biotechnology aimed at developing innovative products, the key concepts of patent law (such as “discovery” and “invention”) and the questions that arise when the targets of patents are either new life forms (transgenic organisms) or still existing parts of living organisms (e.g. case study method) will be discussed.

The purpose of this course is to explore business research and business planning methods that are key reference points for both new and existing businesses. Market research is an essential and ongoing process for creating and operating a successful business. The main objectives of the course are to introduce students to the process of conducting market research and drafting a business plan, to train them in conducting business research and using statistical tools, and to familiarize them with appropriate strategic analysis tools and interpreting their results.

The aim of this course is to provide students with the legal framework governing the impact of biotechnology on the environment. The issues of sustainable development, biodiversity protection and animal welfare are selective issues and will be analyzed in the light of legal instruments such as the Rio Convention (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity), EU legislation on Genetically Modified Organisms and the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU in Luxembourg. Particular attention will be paid to biosafety standards, which will be analyzed in the light of the Cartagena Protocol and the above-mentioned EU legislation and case law.

This course examines the content and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the light of their political, legal and economic aspects, in combination with governance at international, regional (European) and national level. The aim is to familiarize students with the concept and issues of sustainable development, as well as to gain knowledge and understanding of the requirements and conditions, but also of the procedures, instruments and tools, etc. that are used in this field, both at international and regional, and in this case at EU level. The evaluation of the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, using economic tools and indicators in order to assess their implementation over time and by target. The data represent the degree of adaptation to social and economic transformation of the stakeholders. Finally, strategic options and policy contents are presented, as they emerge on the basis of a broader planning, individual plans and programmatic frameworks, and the governance issues involved.

Elective Courses Offered by Another Programme of the University with equal ECTS

The Dissertation

The dissertation is an individual project of original scientific work. The subject is chosen from a list of topics suggested by a faculty member, who acts as a supervisor. Alternatively, students may choose a research-based dissertation of 12 months duration.

Synergies

The students will have the chance to participate in seminars on various subjects related to Bioeconomy (e.g. biosafety and biorisk assessment subjects, biofuel production, environmental bio-indicators, biomass use in the energy systems etc.).

The Programme Handbook

Handbook

Students’ Selected Coursework

Open Source Lecture

Attend an open source lecture of our Master Programme in “Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law” – Course: Biology and Environment: Basic Concepts (Video)

Erasmus+ BioContact Project

General information

The International Hellenic University announced its Partnership for the MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law with the University of Leiden, Netherlands and Perseus Company, Belgium within the framework of the Erasmus + 2018 Strategic Partnership for the Higher Education Sector. The aim of the Partnership was to connect Academia with the Bioeconomy market and to develop a curriculum that responds to the needs of the students in combination with the needs of the labor market, in biosafety related subjects. The partnership addressed the gaps in academic knowledge and relevant skills in biosafety, biorisk management in clinical research and environmental protection in direct connection to the market and societal needs.

The purpose was to design a curriculum addressing student and labour market needs through hands-on activities and case-study analyses. Our students benefited from the teaching, experience and guidance of Biosafety Specialists in the Environment and Clinical Research and had the opportunity to be trained for a week at our Partners’ premises on practical topics related to managing biosafety issues. Our Partners included the University of Leiden, Netherlands (https://www.lumc.nl/), world-leader in Biosafety assessment in Biomedical research and the Belgium-based Perseus Company, specializing in consulting in Biosafety management and Biotechnology regulatory challenges (https://www.perseus.be/).

BioContact Kick-off Meeting

Erasmus + BioContact Kick-off meeting was organized between 15 and 16 January 2019 at IHU Campus. Our Partners include word-leading experts on Biosafety from Leiden University, Netherlands and the Belgium-based Perseus Company. During the meeting all participants concluded that it was a very constructive and productive two-day meeting, necessary for the smooth and successful implementation of the project’s outputs and proposed actions.

IHU Students @ Belgium for a BioContact training

During the period 6-13 July 2019, the students of the IHU MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law, had the unique opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Ghent, as well as other cities of Belgium, such as Brussels and Antwerp.

The BioContact Training included:

  • Guidance by the biosafety experts of Perseus company in the research facilities of various Institutes, Universities and Research Centers.
  • Training by renowned academics and biosafety officers in biosafety subjects and laboratory quality control.
  • Attendance of several lectures on biosafety measurements by experts from Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Visit of the laboratories and research facilities of the University of Ghent, the free University of Brussels and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp.
  • Visit of the animal experiment facilities of the University of Ghent, making students familiar with all the procedures in place to protect animal welfare, human health and the environment.
  • Visit of the labs and plant growth rooms of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).
  • Presentation with outmost success of students’ semester assignments in front of an audience of biotechnology academics and professionals, impressing them with the structure and quality of the essays and presentations.
  • A warm welcome by the Greek ambassador and the Greek delegation in Brussels, where they talked about the work flow of the EC, the decision making processes in the European Parliament, and their experiences as students of the MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law.

Lab Facilities

IHU Molecular Ecology/Molecular Biology Lab

Please visit the IHU Molecular Ecology/Molecular Biology Lab webpage

Soil Ecology Lab

Please visit the Soil Ecology Lab webpage

Schedule

The duration of the MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law depends on the kind of stream being chosen by the students. This stream is determined by the nature of the undertaken dissertation (experimental or non-experimental dissertation). For students who will choose a non-experimental dissertation, the full-time attendance of taught courses for two academic semesters and the preparation of a master’s dissertation for one more semester are required. For those who will choose an experimental research-based dissertation, the programme’s curriculum requires the full-time attendance of taught courses for two academic semesters plus two academic semesters for the preparation of the master’s dissertation. For students who wish to attend the programme on a part-time basis, the programme gives this possibility upon their request. In this case, the duration of the MSc is doubled.

Teaching takes place on weekends.  The programme is also available in distance learning mode. The attendance of lectures is compulsory. There is a limit of absences allowed (for more information please consult the Programme Handbook). The programme starts every November.

Weekly course timetable

https://schedule.ihu.edu.gr/

The Academic Faculty

Monokrousos Nikolaos,

Director

 Associate Professor, International Hellenic University

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/cv/nikolaos-monokrousos
Aggelopoulos Stamatis Professor of the Department of Agriculture, International Hellenic University

https://agro.ihu.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ΒΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟ-Αγγελόπουλου-Σταμάτη.pdf
Archontakis Fragiskos Lecturer, International Hellenic University

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/cv/fragiskos-archontakis
Argyropoulou Venetia Academic Scholar (Dr.), International Hellenic University

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/Venetia_Argyropoulou.pdf
Emmanouil Christina External Associate (Dr.), Laboratory teaching personnel, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

https://qa.auth.gr/el/cv/chemmanouil
Galetsi Panagiota Academic Scholar (Dr.), Management-Decision Making, International Hellenic University

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/cv/panagiota-galetsi
Gijsbert van Willigen Head of department of biosrisk management, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/post-1237
Kroustalis Ioannis Academic Scholar (Dr.), International Hellenic University

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/CV-Ioannis_Kroustalis.pdf
Mollaki Vasiliki External Associate (Dr.), National Bioethics and Technoethics Commission

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/cv/vasiliki-mollaki
Papakostas Spyridon Assistant Professor, International Hellenic University

https://st.ihu.gr/el/posts/post-profiles/σπύρος-παπακώστας
Petrakis Spyridon External Associate (Dr.), Researcher, Centre for Reasearch and Technology- Hellas (CERTH)

https://www.inab.certh.gr/contact/personnel/10-researchers/156-spyros-petrakis
Vidalis  Panayiotis External Associate (Dr.), National Bioethics and Technoethics Commission

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/cv/panayiotis-vidalis
Vorgias Konstantinos External Associate, Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

http://www.biol.uoa.gr/fileadmin/biol.uoa.gr/uploads/Full_CVs/Vorgias_C_Eng.pdf
Zografou Stella Laboratory teaching personnel (Dr.), International Hellenic University

https://www.ihu.gr/ucips/cv/stella-zografou

Fees & Financing

Fees

The programme fees for the MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law is 2,700€. The amount is payable in two instalments for the full time mode or in four instalments for the part time mode at the beginning of each semester. The fees are also eligible for financing through LAEK – OAED programme.

Deposits

If you have been accepted to a postgraduate programme, you will need to make a payment of the deposit of 500 Euros to secure your place. This amount will count towards the first instalment of your tuition fees. The deposit is non-refundable once you have commenced your studies at the IHU. Prior to that, a refund can be made but a 20% administrative fee will be retained. The deposit can be paid by bank transfer or bank draft. Credit card payments can be made through electronic banking (contact your Bank as handling fees may apply).

*For non-EU students, an advance payment of 1.350 Euros out of 2.700 Euros towards the tuition fees must be paid.

Scholarships

The School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics offers a number of scholarships for the programmes it offers, covering a significant proportion of the fees. These scholarships are competitive. Award criteria include the quality of the first degree, the undergraduate grades of the candidate, his/her command of the English language and overall profile. Candidates for scholarships should include a separate letter with their application documents in which they request to be considered for a scholarship, stating the reasons why they think they qualify.

MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law – Excellence awards for the academic year 2024-2025!

The MSc in Bioeconomy announces the ‘Excellence awards’ for the academic year 2024-2025 by providing 25% tuition discount to candidates who hold an undergraduate university degree of 7.5/10 and above. For more information please contact the Programme Manager on (+30) 2310 807526.

Programme announcement – Admissions

The next intake in the MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law starts in November 2024. Interested parties are invited to submit their application by 31 August 2024 extended until 20 September 2024 (non-Greek applicants) / 30 September 2024 (Greek applicants) or until places are filled, by following instructions at the applications page.

Programme announcement: ENG | GR

 

Ideal Career path

The graduates of the programme will be equipped with specialist expertise and high-level cognitive skills to become autonomous/self-directed professionals or find employment in consulting, policy and management roles in the sectors of biotechnological product development, regulation, management and marketing. Career opportunities may be found in:

  • Biotechonological product enterprises of various sizes
  • Cooperatives and industries of the biotechnology sector
  • NGOs involved in bioethics and biosafety policy, rural development and environmental protection
  • Government and local/rural agencies
  • Research institutes
  • National and international organizations active in bioproduct regulation and marketing
  • Consulting agencies and environmental law firms

Advisory Board

Members

Quality Assurance & Evaluation Reports

Quality Assurance Policy

Quality Assurance Policy

Evaluation Reports

Location

The MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law takes place in the facilities of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University in Thermi-Thessaloniki.

Contact

Postal address:
School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics
Department of School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics
University Center of International Programmes of Studies
14th km Thessaloniki – Nea Moudania 570 01 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece

Tel: +30 2310 807 526/523/530

Email: infoshsse@ihu.edu.gr