2026-04-16

As pharmaceutical manufacturing evolves into a technology-driven and globally integrated sector, academic institutions must align closely with industry expectations to build future-ready talent, said Dr. Supriya Shidhaye, Principal, Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Pharmacy, in an interview with Pharma Industrial India. She highlighted curriculum innovation, industry collaboration and emerging career opportunities for students.

Q. How are educational institutions aligning their curriculum with the evolving needs of the pharma manufacturing sector?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: Pharma manufacturing is undergoing a rapid technological shift, and academic institutions must evolve accordingly. Today, curriculum redesign is strongly driven by industrial expectations.

Institutions are increasingly integrating Industry 4.0 modules into their curricula, including automation, digital twins, predictive analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven R&D, to align education with evolving manufacturing and research landscapes. They are also providing hands-on exposure to modern analytical tools such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and dissolution systems, while introducing courses on novel therapeutic modalities, including biologics, oligonucleotide therapies, and cell and gene technologies.

In parallel, regulatory and data integrity compliance training aligned with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) expectations is being embedded to ensure industry-ready competencies.

As Principal, I ensure the curriculum remains dynamic, reviewed annually with industry stakeholders and aligned with hiring trends that are shaping pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Q. In what ways can educational institutions collaborate more effectively with pharma industries for research and training?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: To build industry-ready talent, institutions must move beyond traditional Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and foster deeper and more meaningful collaborations with the pharmaceutical sector. This includes co-developing academic programmes with pharma companies to ensure real-world relevance, establishing joint research laboratories focused on drug development, continuous manufacturing or sustainability, and offering industry-embedded internships, live projects and short-term residencies across manufacturing plants, Quality Control (QC) laboratories and regulatory departments.

Additionally, continuous faculty development through industrial training and certifications is essential, alongside regularly inviting industry leaders to conduct masterclasses, technology showcases and expert-led sessions that bridge the gap between academia and practice.

A successful collaboration treats industry as an equal partner in talent development, not merely as an internship provider.

Q. How are new technologies like automation, AI and quality analytics being introduced into classroom teaching?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: New technologies are becoming integral to academic training, with institutions actively embedding those into their curricula through simulation-based learning models that leverage virtual labs, AI-driven formulation tools and digital batch records. They are also conducting workshops focused on automation, robotics and PLC/SCADA-based manufacturing systems to familiarise students with modern production environments.

In addition, case studies on AI-enabled drug discovery, predictive maintenance and data-driven quality management are being introduced to strengthen applied understanding. Complementing this, analytics modules covering Python, R, Machine Learning (ML) fundamentals and pharma-focused data interpretation are equipping students with essential digital and analytical competencies.

As a Principal, the goal is to ensure experiential learning, where theoretical concepts are supported by tool-based as signments, practical demonstrations and problem-solving exercises.

Q. What are the biggest challenges you face in motivating students to pursue careers in pharma manufacturing?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: Key challenges include the persistent perception that manufacturing is repetitive, even though modern pharmaceutical manufacturing is highly automated, technology-driven and innovation-oriented. There is also a lack of awareness among students about the diverse career progression opportunities available across Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), regulatory affairs and operations.

Limited exposure to advanced manufacturing facilities further reinforces outdated assumptions about the sector. As a result, many students tend to gravitate towards clinical, R&D or corporate roles without fully understanding the strategic importance, stability and long-term growth potential that manufacturing careers offer. Addressing these requires early industry immersion, showcasing success stories and highlighting manufacturing’s critical role in global health.

Q. How can students showcase their knowledge or projects to attract attention from top pharma recruiters?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: Students can significantly enhance their employability by developing industry-relevant projects in formulation optimisation, process improvement, automation, stability studies, or analytical method development; maintaining a professional portfolio of lab work, certifications, simulations and internships; participating in hackathons, conferences and poster competitions; publishing short research papers, reviews, or technical notes on trending topics and demonstrating soft skills—effective communication, documentation, critical thinking and teamwork.

Recruiters are increasingly seeking a combination of hands-on expertise and digital fluency.

Q. How do you view the scope of pharma manufacturing as a career path for today’s students?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: The scope is tremendous. The career potential is exceptional. Pharma manufacturing today is a high-technology, globally integrated sector. Digitisation, AI-based design tools, automation and advanced therapeutic platforms have transformed it into an innovation engine. Students can build careers in process development and scale-up; formulation and bioprocess engineering; QC and QA; regulatory compliance and documentation; pharma automation, analytics and data science; and biologics, biosimilars and gene-based therapies.

The field offers stability, international opportunities and long-term advancement.

Q. What new areas within pharma manufacturing are opening up for students—such as biotechnology, formulation, or quality assurance?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: With the evolving landscape, there are several next-wave opportunities. Some of these include biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars production; cell and gene therapy manufacturing; oligonucleotide and mRNA-based products; continuous and modular manufacturing; single-use bioreactor systems; digital quality management and EBR systems; radiopharmaceutical manufacturing; and green chemistry and sustainable operations.

These domains require hybrid skill sets combining biology, chemistry, analytics and data science.

Q. What positive trends are you observing among students regarding awareness of quality control, safety and sustainability in pharma production?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: Students today demonstrate a growing awareness and are increasingly thoughtful about emerging trends. Key trends include growing awareness of GMP, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and data integrity expectations; stronger interest in analytical chemistry and instrumentation techniques; recognition of sustainability like green solvents, waste reduction, circular resource models; understanding of pharmacovigilance, validation practices and continuous improvement; and participation in safety workshops, Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) training, and compliance-oriented projects.

This shift shows that students increasingly view manufacturing as a precision-driven, responsible, and impactful career path.

Q. What can educational institutions do to make pharma manufacturing a more aspirational career choice for students?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: Institutions can elevate the aspirational value by showcasing alumni career journeys into leadership roles; establishing state-of-the-art laboratories aligned with current industry practices; offering plant immersion visits from the first year onwards; conducting innovation challenges targeting real manufacturing problems; hosting global experts for training, seminars and technology demonstrations; celebrating a dedicated Manufacturing Excellence Week to build excitement and encouraging early-stage mini research projects to nurture scientific curiosity.

When students see a blend of innovation, technology and global impact, manufacturing becomes an attractive career choice.

Q. What messages would you like to give to students exploring opportunities in pharma manufacturing as their career path?

Dr. Supriya Shidhaye: Pharma manufacturing is where science meets impact. Every batch produced, every process optimised and every solution created, directly influences patient lives across the world.

My message to students is that, be curious, be adaptive and embrace technology. Build strong fundamentals in chemistry, biology and analytical techniques. Learn digital skills like AI tools, automation basics and data analytics. Prioritise quality, ethics and documentation excellence. Think like innovators, approach challenges with scientific rigour and creativity.

The future of pharmaceutical manufacturing will be led by professionals who can merge science, technology and purpose. Today’s students are uniquely positioned to shape that future.