PSB Academy offers three new degrees with La Trobe

Private education institution PSB Academy is now offering bachelor degrees in Biomedical Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Molecular Biology to students studying in Singapore.

This is the result of a new partnership between the EduTrust-certified private institution, PSB Academy, and one of Australia's pioneering universities - La Trobe University.

The joint venture was officially launched on November 12 at PSB Academy's Delta Campus by La Trobe University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Jane Long and PSB Academy Chief Executive Officer Mr Evan Law, who expressed their excitement and discussed the possibilities of partnership.

Mr Law said: "There's a demand for Life Sciences programme not only on a part-time level but full-time too. We thought that there's a potential in the market for Life Sciences both in Singapore and the global region so the decision to bring La Trobe University in to have this discussion came about fairly quickly."

Professor Long, who had previously worked with PSB Academy on other projects, said: "I thought they were highly-professional with high standards. When they were keen to carry out courses relevant to Singapore's students and also international students in Singapore, it was the perfect timing as very fortunately, La Trobe University was also looking to expand its repertoire of high quality Science."

Currently, La Trobe also has a nanotechnology programme partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Students will be able to utilise PSB Academy's fully equipped wet lab, which is well-suited for experiments. This allows a hands-on approach where students will be able to apply theoretical knowledge, which is one of the many benefits of having a wet lab.

Mr Law went on to explain: "If students conduct an experiment themselves and not through a computer simulation, they'll be trained in that area which then prepares them for real-life work experience."

Ms Long and her team will be keeping close tabs on the course from Australia, as well as through regular visits to Singapore.

She said: "The curriculum of the degree, its assessment, and quality assurance is exactly as it is if a student was studying in La Trobe, Melbourne."

In recent years, La Trobe University has been accredited with a number of awards. It was ranked the Top 100 emerging universities in the world by Time Higher Education for 2014 and bagged the title of Australia's best university for research in microbiology and equal best in biochemistry and cell biology, and veterinary science (Excellence in Research for Australia 2012 rankings).

Students who enroll in the courses will graduate with a La Trobe University degree. Whilst the programmes are conducted here in Singapore through PSB Academy, students are given the opportunity to complete their last semester or final year in the main campus in Melbourne.

The courses will commence in September 2015.

dewisri@sph.com.sg