Through its professional orientation, curriculum definitely improves communicative and collaborative skills, says Prof.

BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology is a course in demand these days. A course that equips students with advanced skills required in diagnostic and pharmaceutical laboratories, research, leadership, quality assurance and health informatics. In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Dr Sougata Niyogi, Assistant Profesor at Dinabandhu Andrews Institute of Technology and Management talks at length about the scope of BSc programme and how the institute can contribute to students growth.

Dr Niyogi is a PhD in Biochemistry and MSc in Microbiology.

Read the complete interview below

Q: Why BSc in MLT is an attractive professional course?

A: BSc course in MLT (Medical Laboratory Technology) provides advanced skills required in diagnostic and pharmaceutical laboratories, research, leadership, quality assurance and health informatics. At the end of the curriculum, students will learn the principle underlying the organisation of a clinical laboratory, divergent routine and special investigative procedures using various diagnostic tools. Given the prodigious significance of healthcare services, career opportunities for medical laboratory technologists will certainly expand faster than the average of all other occupations.

Q: Could you talk about the curriculum of this programme? What kind of jobs one can expect?

A: In this three-year (six semesters) course a student will learn different subjects such as Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Histopathology, Virology, Parasitology, Hematology and Molecular Biology. One can acquire knowledge about the collection, processing and testing of clinical samples, and also get acquainted with different diagnostic tools & techniques used in the world of the healthcare industry. At the same time, through its professional orientation, this curriculum definitely improves communicative and collaborative skills. This course also offers several internship programmes helping the students further in their careers.

Top employment areas include hospitals, private laboratories and clinics, forensic laboratories, blood banks, pharmaceutical companies and educational institutes. A student can become a medical lab technologist/ pathology technician/ laboratory supervisor or a quality control manager after successful completion of the course.

Q: What are the three things that your institute is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from the competition?

A: DAITM is ingenious in many ways including teaching-learning edification and appropriate placements that play a cardinal role in differentiating it from other institutes. MLT department is relatively new in this college. We follow certain foundational propositions on which we believe a triumphant career depends. Since the curriculum remains more or less similar in all the institutes, the quality of the content and its proper delivery make the difference.

• We emphasise on basic knowledge and industry learning in order to facilitate practical exposure to students which will ultimately invigorate extemporaneous and professional skills
• The true objective of a professional course is fulfilled only after a successful and proper placement DAITM is exceptionally prominent in this regard.
• We also promote pragmatic and value-based learning in our outstanding academic ambience through divergent competitions, projects and other day-to-day activities.

Q: What are the top three important factors that will make the students more industry ready?

A: Important factors that help students become industry-ready are –

• Excellent laboratory facilities, hospital/ laboratory collaborations, dedicated and experienced faculty members, friendly staff members and modernised library will certainly help the student to attain the best possible credentials
• As mentioned earlier, we strongly encourage our students for several internships and training programmes. This exposure will definitely improve their professional skills.
• We have included various extracurricular activities in our regular routine. This actually helps in developing collaborative and managerial adroitness required for the industry.