Call for applications - 2025 Introductory course for Standard Practice organized by the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing  in the Republic of Korea, supported by the World Health Organization

Background

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant inequities in access to vaccines and other biologics and are making efforts to establish biological manufacturing in their regions. However, these efforts—whether through bilateral technology transfer or local R&D—are often hindered by the lack of a trained workforce.

To address this gap and to build the biomanufacturing capacity in LMICs, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the Republic of Korea as the Global Biomanufacturing Training Hub. In 2023, WHO and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW) of the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B). In May 2024, the GTH-B Support Foundation was established under the Civil Act with the approval of MoHW, to conduct and coordinate the GTH-B training programs as a non-profit foundation.  

The hub is mandated to provide training in the manufacturing of high-quality vaccines and biologics in an industrial setting to resolve inequality in access to vaccines and biologics worldwide by expanding manufacturing capacity in LMICs.

Since 2022, GTH-B, in collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), has offered two introductory courses every year: Introductory Course for Biologics Development and Manufacturing and Introductory Course for Standard Practice (GxP). These courses have been provided to over 900 participants from 70 different LMICs in total.

For the fourth year, the Republic of Korea, in agreement with WHO, is organizing a new training focusing on the introduction to standard practice (GxP) in biomanufacturing from October to November 2025 for 150 trainees from LMICs.

Course Period

Proposed dates for 2025 Introductory Course for Standard Practice (GxP) are:

• Pre-Online Course: Thursday, October 2, 2025 – Sunday, October 26, 2025
• In Person Course: Monday, October 27, 2025 – Friday, November 14, 2025

Course Objectives

The purpose of this Introductory Course for Standard Practice (GxP) is to equip participants representing the biomanufacturing workforce from LMICs with the essential skills required to operate according to current good practices.

After completing the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to operate in a biomanufacturing facility according to international GxP standards. By investing in workforce development, the hub will support ongoing initiatives in local bioproduction and strengthen knowledge sharing between manufacturers. This includes, but is not limited to, didactic and practice sessions on Good Laboratory Practice, Good Clinical Practice, Good Clinical Laboratory Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice, and Biosafety.

Content and Structure

This course will consist of three weeks of pre-online sessions followed by three weeks of in-person sessions. At the end of each session, participants will be required to test their learning through online or in-person quizzes. Certification will be awarded to participants who achieve 100% completion of the pre-online sessions and 90% completion of all required quizzes of the in-person course.

For the specific areas of sessions being developed for the course, please refer to Appendix 1: Tentative Course Outline.

Eligibility, Limitation, and Selection Criteria

The course targets individuals employed by entities in countries formally registered as LMICs on the OECD DAC list and currently involved in the production of bioproducts including vaccines, therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, etc.

Training and services will be provided exclusively to selected individuals and cannot be transferred or shared. Applicants are expected to demonstrate in their application how they will apply the experience gained during the training program and commit to returning to their home institution upon completion.

The priority selection criteria for this course are as follows:

• Have an educational background in the field of life sciences
• Hold a position as a technician, engineer, scientist, or manager with up to 6 years of experience in biomanufacturing or a related field
• Be employed by a company registered as a legal entity in an LMIC conducting activities within the scope of biomanufacturing
• Be a citizen of, and resident in, a LMIC
• Have at least an intermediate level of spoken and written English
• Demonstrate in the application how the acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies during the training will be applied within the applicant’s organization after the training
• Explain in the application the relevance to a professional project
  

Application Procedure

All applications must be submitted via online application form by 23 July 2025, 18:00 (KST)

The online application form is available at ‘Apply’ page of the following link: https://ivionlinecampus.ivi.int/

I. Applicants must provide the following information:

• Personal information including name, gender, date of birth, nationality, country of residence, passport information, contact details, etc.
• Educational background/qualifications and level of English proficiency
• Professional background including description of applicant’s current post and work experience
• GTH-B training history

II. 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. (Refer to the endorsement letter sample in the online application form of the website.)

III. 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 organization’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.

Selection Process

The selection process includes the following steps:

• Eligible applications will be reviewed by the selection committee formed by members recommended by MoHW of the Republic of Korea and WHO.
• When the selection process is completed, the selected participant will be informed of the next steps and necessary information by e-mail.
• Due to limited capacity, up to 5 participants maximum from each organization will be allowed to participate.
• 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.
• For the institutions involved in animal vaccine production only and wishing to send participants to the training, a letter from the institution must be addressed to the GTH-B with a statement regarding an institutional plan to expand its scope to human vaccine.
• The selection process will be based solely on the eligibility and merits of the applicants. Personal connections or informal recommendations will not be considered under any circumstances.
  

Financial Provisions

The course is offered free of charge to participants. Accommodation will be provided during the entire course days and weekends. On weekdays, breakfast and lunch will be provided. On weekends, only breakfast will be provided.

The trip cost to/from Seoul, the Republic of Korea will NOT be covered. Applicants must secure the traveling costs at their own expense, and it is recommended to schedule the return flight within 3 days following the course. Selected participants will be responsible for obtaining any vaccinations and visas which may be necessary for the travel.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW) of the Republic of Korea and the World Health Organization (WHO), are dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity in science. We particularly encourage women to apply, and encourage any qualified applicants regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious, cultural, and social backgrounds, or (dis)ability status. 

Further Information                                                                       

For any questions regarding the application, please contact the GTH-B Support Foundation at gthb@gthbsf.org

The receipt of the applications will be automatically acknowledged via return email from gthb.coordinator@ivi.int.  An acknowledgement of the application receipt does not imply that the application is complete and eligible for review.

Appendix 1. Tentative Course Outline

Pre-online course for approximately 19 hours and in-person course for 120 hours