The Mumbai-based Institute of Pharmaceutical Management (IPM) has signed an agreement with Dr L H Hiranandani College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, to commence a new diploma course in quality operations and regulatory affairs for providing basic knowledge on industry oriented regulatory and quality management operations for pharmacy students.

The IPM, which is currently conducting two diploma courses - one on quality management and another for regulatory affairs in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and formulations for working pharma professionals, will conduct the course in the Hiranandani College premises, according to the agreement.

The institute has already started admission process and will soon start the course with 50 students for the first batch, informs an IPM spokesperson. The course is designed to meet the current requirement of GMP and product registrations with the syllabus covers QC, QA & RA aspects as per international guidelines. The faculties will have adequate experience in the industry and the students will have opportunity to interact with industry experts directly.

Basically, the students cross the bridge between academics and industry more easily and efficiently, which will help them in their jobs in future, said the IPM source. As per the agreement, the certificate will be issued jointly by the College and IPM and the institute is also planning to conduct campus interviews.

The institute has also started initial works to launch two more programmes - Post Graduate Diploma Course in Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance and a Diploma Course in Patent Laws. The marketing operations has been initiated and the new courses will be launched within two months, informed the IPM spokesperson. The institute is currently running its courses in two branches in Mumbai and has conducted course for more than 250 professionals in last two years.