Oxford Brookes University is backing a new Internet-based biotech management course in conjunction with Oxfordshire BioLink thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, writes Maggie Hartford.

Business for Bioscience is to be delivered by the university and aims to address a major shortage of management candidates for both early stage and growing biotech and bioscience companies.

The course is made up of modules from the University's MBA and Certificate in Management programmes with modules covering the bioscience sector.

Jonathan Reynolds, network manager of Oxfordshire BioLink, said: "We are delighted that Oxford Brookes have agreed with us and seen the need for such a course. The Internet now allows us to deliver what the market needs."

Roger Mumby-Croft, director of the Enterprise Centre at Oxford Brookes University, added: "The fact that we had no shortage of volunteers for the pilot course confirms that we are answering an unmet need.

"Candidates have varying backgrounds, but the overall aim is the same, to provide a stream of managers with the holistic view so vital to start up and growing companies. This is turn fits in with the Oxford Brookes mission to pioneer new forms of delivering education."