Industry Insights at UCB: Nurturing Soft Skills Through Networking, Panel Talks, and Lab Tours
From networking with professionals across various sectors to engaging in group industry tasks, students had the opportunity to refine their soft skills while gaining first hand insights into the field.
Panel talks delivered by industry experts shared personal journeys, offering inspiration and invaluable career insights. However, it was the immersive lab tours that truly stood out to students. From witnessing cutting-edge research projects to donning lab coats and goggles, the students experienced the innovation driving pharmaceutical breakthroughs.
Here is what some of our students thought of the trip:
Huley C - My experience at UCB was unforgettable, we got to see a pharmacy at work with the scientific laboratory’s, and we got to experience daily life in the science and research sector. The day lived up to its name being “Insightful“. If I had the chance to do it again I would take it without a doubt, because of this trip I’m really considering working in the pharmaceutical industry and I am grateful for this exciting opportunity.
Mateusz K -We had a lab tour in the biology and chemistry sectors which I enjoyed the most and spent time learning about the processes that happen in each one. We had a panel talk with professionals who spoke about their journeys which helped me realise the different pathways available to me after my A-levels.
Gurleen D - The UCB insight day was absolutely fantastic as I got to delve deeper into the pharmaceutical industry. We had the opportunity to network and engage with professionals from multiple industries within the company, from scientists to apprentices to HR. We got to work on a group industry task with peers, which gave us the opportunity to develop our soft skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. There were panel talks from professionals about their journey from A-levels to their current role at UCB which was enlightening and inspiring. The lab tours were the highlight of the day. Visiting various labs and seeing the state-of-the-art equipment and ongoing research projects and experiments provided me with a real sense of what it would be like to work as a scientist. Having the opportunity to wear a lab coat and goggles was absolutely surreal and I felt like an actual scientist whilst wearing the specialist clothing. Being able to witness the rigorous efforts that go into making the medicines that are available to us today ignited a new appreciation for the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, the day was so educational, informative and engaging and this is all due to the hard work of everyone who helped make this unforgettable experience happen.
Syeda F - Our visit to UCB's insight day provided me with an insight into the fascinating world of pharmaceutical science. We got to engage with individuals from various roles within the company, such as chemists, biologists, apprentices in HR management, Ethical and legal department, who shared with us the joy of exploration, research, and creation of remarkable medicines that have a positive impact on the world. We got to visit various labs, where most of the amazing drugs are researched and experimented upon. The day ended with a team activity where we got to showcase our newly learnt knowledge and presentation skills. It was a day filled with learning, meeting new people, and exploration. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience.
