Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs (Food & Drink, Postgraduate Diploma L9, 60 ECTS)

Status: Register Your Interest (Sept-23)

Level

Duration

15 Months

Department

Mechanical & Automobile Engineering

Start Date

TBC

Course Type

Flexible & Professional, Postgraduate Taught courses

Location

Online

Many companies operate in highly regulated areas where the demand for dynamic validation engineers, effective quality management systems and regulatory compliance leaders is growing. The aim of the Level 9 taught Graduate Diploma of Science in Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs (Food & Drink) is to equip learners with competence in the appropriate legal, compliance and industry operational standards.

The programme will enable understanding of all current applicable regulations, quality management systems and effective process validation requirements. Learners will have the knowledge and skills to be able to audit all, or part of, organisation's formal Quality Management systems. Learners will acquire the ability to objectively evaluate evidence generated by systems and processes against clearly defined criteria and determine the effectiveness of these systems and processes; ensuring that they will develop skills to address and prepare for the ever-changing environment of regulatory affairs in food and drink sectors.

This Graduate Diploma of Science is delivered online and designed as an innovative multi-tiered programme to address the needs and requirements of industry-based learners and making education more accessible. It is designed so that learners can opt to select the module streams individually as Special Purpose Awards (six), complete three of the module streams to attain a Level 9 Graduate Diploma or opt for the Level 9 Masters of Science.

Critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, professionalism and management techniques will be key areas covered by the programme.

What are the entry requirements?

(a) A minimum honours bachelor degree (Level 8) in any discipline with minimum two years relevant work based experience and/or ability, evidenced by an RPL portfolio of prior experience and learning
Or
(b) A minimum ordinary bachelor degree (Level 7) in any discipline with minimum three years relevant work based experience and/or ability, evidenced by an RPL portfolio of prior experience and learning
Or
(c) Equivalent Qualifications. Applicants with equivalent qualifications on the European and International
frameworks will also be considered. International students must evidence a proficiency in English language for
example IELTS 6.0

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) / Special Case Registrations: Prospective participants who do not meet the entry requirements for the programme detailed above, but who may qualify for admission by meeting certain other equivalent criteria, should notify the Flexible Learning Office and request consideration under RPL. Please submit your application online and then email all your supporting documents to flexible@lit.ie

Who can I contact?

Dept. of Flexible Learning
+353 61 29802
flexible@lit.ie

What modules will I study?

Semester 1: September 2023 - December 2023 TBC:

Quality Management - Mondays 6:30pm-9:30pm

This module facilitates an in-depth understanding of quality, quality management and systems

Regulatory Affairs (Food and Drink) - Tuesdays 7pm-10pm

Provide learners with an understanding of EU regulatory systems in the Food and Drink field.

Semester 2: January 2024 - May 2024

Auditing and Risk Management - Mondays 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Knowledge and skills to be able audit organisation's formal Quality Management systems.

Advanced Regulatory Affairs (Food and Drink) - Tuesdays 7pm - 10pm

Understanding of the utilisation of standards, FDA and other jurisdictions guidance documents and technical writing.

Computer Systems Validation (Elective) - Thursdays 7pm-10pm

An overview of software validation in a manufacturing or software environment.

Semester 3: September 2024 - December 2024

Advances Process Engineering - Tuesdays 7pm - 10pm

Process management together with tools and techniques used in the manufacturing environment.

Process Validation (Elective) - Thursdays 7pm - 10pm

Provide the learner with an overview of process and product validation in manufacturing environments

*** Dates & Times TBC ***

Are there opportunities for further study?

Students can transfer on to the Masters of Science in Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs. Holders of this Level 9 Graduate diploma will be required to complete one 30 credit Dissertation Module to obtain the L9 Masters. Please click here for further information.

What are the career prospects?

There are multiple roles a graduate from the programme can seek in disciplines such as Quality Engineering, Management, Auditing, Compliance, Legal and Regulatory Affairs.

Furthermore, there are multiple roles a graduate from the programme can seek in areas such as Regulatory Engineer, Process Engineer, Validation Engineer, Quality Engineers, Regulatory Affairs Management, Process Engineering Management, Validation Management, Quality Management, Quality Management Systems, Quality Assurance, Compliance and Auditing Management, Risk Management.

International Opportunities:

The content of the modules will be seen to reflect a globalised environment .This is demonstrated by the regulatory affairs module stream which focuses on EU, US and worldwide regulatory affair bodies.

This is further demonstrated through the quality management module stream as learners will receive internationally recognised award in ISO9001:2015 Lead Auditor, which equips learner to be lead auditors world-wide. Thus will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to audit all, or part of, an organisation's formal Quality Management systems against defined criteria such as international standards ISO 13485, ISO 9001 or 21 CFR Part 820

More Information

Delivery: online.

This programme will run online from September 2023 to December 2023
8 hours per week. Exact timetable TBC.

Semester 1: September - December (2 evenings per week - Monday & Tuesday)

Semester 2: January - May (2 evenings per week - Monday & tuesday)

Semester 3: September - December (2 evenings per week - Monday & Thursday) (Subject to change)

Lectures will be delivered 100% online via Moodle/MSTeams. Lectures will be recorded and available to watch back.

What will the time commitment be?

Each 5 credits will normally equate to approximately 100 Total Learning Hours. Total Learning Hours includes the time you spend in class (lectures, tutorials, practical elements) and the time you spend completing work outside of college. The balance between these two varies by discipline, and by level of study. You should bear in mind that the workload will increase at particular times e.g. when assignments are due.

Assessment

As assessments will be mainly industry based, learners are required to engage with industry and industry representatives in various cross disciples through continuous assessment and industry-based projects. This will prepare learners to be industry ready and apply the transferable skills gained through module content, industry engagement, and strengthened by industry-based assessments.

Students will be assessed on their learning by a variety of strategies including:

The use of continuous assessment through projects, coursework, multiple choice questions, e-tivities, presentations and assignments. 100% continuous assessment ie. NO terminal examinations.