Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) School of Pharmacy (Dean So Yun-jo), which aims to be a research-focused pharmacy school leading new drug development based on natural products, is set to become a central hub for training future-oriented talent to lead the pharmaceutical industry.

JBNU was recently selected, through cooperation with Jeollabuk-do and Jeongeup City, in the competition for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s KRW 18 billion 'Pharmaceutical Industry Future Workforce Training Center' project.

Through this project, JBNU will invest a total of KRW 18 billion—comprising national funding (KRW 12.6 billion) and local funding (KRW 5.4 billion)—to establish a state-of-the-art workforce training center and specialized educational equipment on JBNU’s Advanced Science Campus, located in the R&D special zone in Sinjeong-dong, Jeongeup City.

The center to be established will cultivate future talent to lead the pharmaceutical field by delivering education in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and quality control and by conducting GMP practical training. It will also serve as a regional practical training hub. Design and various administrative procedures will be completed this year, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2023.

Once the facility is completed, JBNU plans to train approximately 1,200 individuals annually who meet global standards for the pharmaceutical industry. The university will leverage the School of Pharmacy faculty and the university’s excellent infrastructure to offer customized programs for students in pharmacy and pharmaceutical/biotech-related departments, employees of pharmaceutical companies, and job seekers, from pharmaceutical process skills enhancement courses to hands-on practical training, not only in the Honam region but nationwide.

In particular, the center will go beyond educational functions by supporting areas that are difficult for companies to undertake—such as analysis of raw materials and finished pharmaceuticals, clinical and non-clinical analyses, and consulting aligned with international GMP standards—thereby helping to resolve technical challenges faced by companies and contributing significantly to the region’s growth as a hub for the pharmaceutical and bio industries.

Dean So Yun-jo of the School of Pharmacy said, "We expect that selection for this project will elevate the JBNU School of Pharmacy as a central axis in training future pharmaceutical talent in Korea. We will strive to supply the manpower needed by the biopharmaceutical industry and to contribute to regional economic revitalization by helping to resolve technical difficulties faced by companies in related fields."