Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Business Organization and Experiences in Business
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Questions will be answered online, by videoconference, with the subject coordinator.
Introduction
This course reinforces the more practical content taught in other, more theoretical subjects. The course offers a tour of five heterogeneous institutions, allowing students to appreciate the different work dynamics, from large pharmaceutical companies to start-ups. Additionally, the course is supported by lectures in which each institution to be visited presents its dynamics, objectives, and organization in the classroom.
Pre-course requirements
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation module.
Objectives
- Teach the real dynamics of the functioning of a biomedical company (start-up, pharmaceutical company, service company).
- Present the real management dynamics of a hospital.
- Describe the real management dynamics of an investment fund.
- Explain the different types of biomedical companies that exist.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN14 - Identify the principles of biomedical sciences related to health, as well as the basic concepts and tools that have an impact on Biomedical Sciences and allow them to work in any of its fields (biomedical companies, bioinformatics labs, research laboratories, clinical analysis companies, etc.).
- CP05 - Apply biological foundations in the search for practical solutions to health problems, following ethical standards and scientific rigour and respecting fundamental equal rights between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values inherent in a peaceful society of democratic values that includes inclusive, non-discriminatory language without stereotypes.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, students should:
- To distinguish the fundamental elements of the structure of the National Health System and health legislation.
- To demonstrate an adequate understanding of the concept of a company, its institutional and legal framework, as well as its organization and management.
- To identify the different types of biomedical companies that exist.
- To recognize the differences and similarities in the management of a company and other types of entities, such as a hospital or a biomedical research academic center.
- To differentiate the departments in which business entities are structured, their dynamics, and the competencies required in each of them.
- To recognize the business positions that a graduate in biomedicine can hold.
Syllabus
1) Practical visit to a hospital.
2) Practical visit to an academic centre.
3) Practical visit to a pharmaceutical company.
4) Practical visit to a biomedical start-up.
5) Practical visit to a biomedical consulting, services or investment company.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Lectures - 12 hours: Presentation by the person in charge of each visit, explaining theoretically in the classroom the company's operations, general objectives, history, etc. These lectures will help deepen the understanding of the practical visits. In the first of these lectures, the subject and the work to be carried out will be presented in the first 30 minutes.
Practical Visits (PV) - 33 hours: Students will tour the selected entities with a guide from the company. This professional will explain on-site the different departments that make up the company and their work dynamics.
Virtual Education (VE): Online material that students can consult from any computer, at any time, which will contribute to self-learning of concepts related to the course.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) Assessment:
• Participation in class and behaviour: 60%
Students are required to attend at least three of the five visits.
• Individual work summarising each company: 40%
Participation in ES-Day: students who participate in all sessions of Entrepreneurship & Social Day (E&S-Day) will receive 0.5 extra points on the final grade.
Each student, individually, will carry out a project that summarises the aspects seen at each visit in each chapter, such as the structure of each organization, its objectives, its work dynamics, etc. It will be accompanied by a diagram that each student will make of each company. Each chapter will be worth a maximum of 2 points out of 10.
If a student does not attend a certain visit, their project may not contain the chapter with that company and, therefore, the work will not be awarded the highest grade.
2) Retakes: the mark for class participation will be maintained.
For retakes, the work presented can only be awarded a maximum grade of 6 out of 10.
General points to keep in mind about the evaluation system:
1) To receive a final grade, the project must obtain a minimum grade of 5.
2) Participation in class is understood as when students contribute interesting ideas or raise pertinent questions that help improve the quality of the session, whether during a lecture or when studying case methods.
3) If students do not arrive on time, they must enter in silence without disturbing or interrupting the class.
Bibliography and resources
- The Enterpreneur’s Guide to a Biotech Startup. Peter Kolchinsky. www.evelexa.com . Free download: https://www.ctsi.ucla.edu/researcher-resources/files/view/docs/EGBS4_Kolchinsky.pdf
Evaluation period
- E1 11/03/2026 A10 16:00h
- E2 29/06/2026 A16 18:00h