Call for applications - 2025 Hands-on training for Good Manufacturing Practice in biomanufacturing organised by the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing in the Republic of Korea, supported by the World Health Organization

Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) face significant inequities in terms of access to vaccines and other biologics and are making efforts to establish biological manufacturing within their regions. Establishing such manufacturing capacity, through bilateral technology transfer or local Research and Development (R&D) efforts, is often hindered by the lack of a trained workforce in biomanufacturing.

The purpose of this training program is to strengthen technical expertise and practical skills in the field of biopharmaceutical GMP. Participants will learn the principles and basics of vaccines, biopharmaceutical development and production in online pre-training. Hands-on training provides practical experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and analysis equipment operation, GMP process, GMP quality control and biopharmaceutical quality control.

II. Training schedule and venues

III. Training method

The training program employs a blended learning approach, combining theoretical instruction delivered through both virtual and in-person lectures with practical, hands-on training conducted directly in simulated industrial environment. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from Korean professionals actively working in GMP-certified manufacturing facilities. This allows them to gain firsthand insight into advanced industry practices while also engaging in meaningful networking with experienced experts.

Application requirements and selection process

I. Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet the following qualifications to be considered eligible for the training:

• Be a citizen of, and resident in, an LMIC.
• Be employed by a company registered as a legal entity in an LMIC conducting activities in the scope of biomanufacturing.
• Hold a position in the company as a technician, engineer, scientist, or manager in biomanufacturing or a related field, with up to 6 years of experience.
• Have an educational background in life sciences and pharmaceuticals.
• Have at least an intermediate level of proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Demonstrate in the application how the acquired knowledge, skills and competencies during the training will be applied after the training in the institution from which the participant is coming.

II. Application submission

All applications must be submitted online at the following link: https://ivionlinecampus.ivi.int/ by 15 August 2025, 18:00 Korea Standard Time (KST).

Applicants must provide the following information:

• Personal information including nationality, country of residence, passport number, name, date of birth, gender, contact details, and others.
• Information about the institution.
• Information about educational background.
• Information about work experience.
• Information about English proficiency.
• Information about GTH-B training history.
  

Applicants must upload the following documents:

• A copy of their passport.
• A letter of endorsement: A letter from the Director of the applicant’s institution confirming the applicant's capability to successfully undertake the training and certifying their current employment status. (A sample endorsement letter is available on the application page of the website.)
  

Applicants must demonstrate the following:

• A description of their current position and justification for their selection.
• A description of the relevance of the training to their professional project.
• A description of the knowledge and skills they wish to acquire during the training.
• A description of their institution’s needs related to the training and the anticipated impact on their institution.
• A description of the plan to apply and share the acquired knowledge and skills after returning to their home institution upon completion of the training.
• Agreement to the GTH-B code of conduct.

III. Selection process

The selection process involves the following steps:

• Eligible applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of members recommended by the MoHW of the Republic of Korea and WHO.
• Once the selection process is completed, selected participants will be notified of the next steps and required information via email.
• Due to limited capacity, a maximum of 3 participants from each country will be selected. The decision will be made by the selection committee in collaboration with the home institution.
• Institutions involved solely in animal vaccine production must provide a letter to GTH-B stating their institutional plan to expand into human vaccine production if they wish to send participants for training.
• The selection Committee may apply a limit of 10% of the total training participants accepted from any single LMIC if the number of applications exceeds the limit.
  

Priority will be given to trainees with certificates from completing the following GTH-B training programs:

• Introductory Course for Biologics Development and Manufacturing
• Introductory Course for Standard Practice (GxP)​

IV. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity

The MoHW of the Republic of Korea and WHO are dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity in science. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, and all qualified applicants are welcome regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, cultural background, social status, or (dis)ability status.

Financial provisions