Unprecedented events have their way of changing how the world works. This was the case when the global health crisis of COVID-19 began in 2020, affecting several sectors and challenging industries to respond to the demands of the struggling public even up to this day.
The academe, which is among the highly impacted areas by the pandemic, is now playing a much heavier role. Its responsibility to strengthen health and medical programs adds up to its duty of ensuring that instructions are continuously and effectively delivered to learners, with the objective of significantly increasing the number of health professionals who have been identified as invaluable during the crisis.
As a leading Philippine educational institution, Mapúa University sees its reputable engineering education as an enabler of such outcome, particularly its Biological Engineering program, which contributes to the production of biological engineers. Through the program, the University helps address the need for a strong medical and engineering workforce that will design new biological products or processes and equipment to support the production of existing pharmaceuticals and biologicals, including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and recombinant proteins, toward building an independent and resilient health and medical industry for the country.
What are bioengineers and what do they do?
Biological engineers study biological processes and integrate them with different areas of engineering to develop solutions for varying fields like bioelectronics, bioprocesses, medicine, agriculture, data science, chemical biology, and molecular biology. Bioengineers collaborate with other healthcare professionals and researchers to improve existing medical systems and tools, as well as generate new technologies that will address existing clinical problems and will help improve the condition of people with illnesses. Their diverse skills in molecular biology and biotechnology, along with their knowledge in human physiology and biochemistry, provide aid in the development and design of biomaterials, stem cell and tissue replacement therapies, and other targeted therapeutics for cancer. In other fields such as agriculture, biological engineers help in designing processes to degrade stubborn pollutants, to convert low-value bioresources such as wood and grass into higher-value materials, to produce heat- or pest-tolerant crops, and other sustainable solutions that aim to conserve soil, water, and other natural resources. In all cases, these experts combine their skills in math, chemistry, physics, economics, and engineering design to find solutions for many of the problems the world is facing today. These roles demonstrate the profession’s relevance in the industry as a 21st century career that saves the lives of people and the planet.
Relevance in the industry
Biological engineering is a growing profession, as health and technology converge to revolutionize healthcare. The employment rate of bioengineers is expected to increase at a faster rate since there is now a growing demand in the field of designing medical equipment, molecular biology tools, and biological processes for the large-scale production of biologicals. Designer drugs are expected to become a trend in personalized medicine, which can be an important area for bioengineering graduates to venture into in the future. Innovation in this area of engineering is seen to grow and be at pace with the development of new technologies, also with improving healthcare and patient outcomes as part of the process. The specific talents of a biological engineer may lead them into a career in research, production management, or commercial sales.
Applications for Academic Year 2021-2022 are still ongoing. Apply online at https://www.mapua.edu.ph/ApplyNow.aspx. To request more information about Mapúa University and your preferred programs, visit https://www.mapua.edu.ph/ExploreMapua.
