Image: Shelley Christians/UWCFor many graduates, stepping from the lecture hall into the workplace can feel like crossing a canyon. The gap between theory and practice is one of the biggest hurdles young professionals face, and in South Africa, where graduate unemployment remains stubbornly high, it is more than a hurdle - it is a national challenge.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has taken this reality to heart, weaving practical, real-world experience into its academic fabric. A recent site visit by fourth-year pharmacy students to BIOVAC - South Africa’s premier vaccine production facility, famous for producing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic in 2020 - was a source of lively interaction and questions from students excited by the practical experience and the many career options shared on the day.
Organised as part of the Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology module, the visit was not just another field trip. It was an opportunity for students to witness the delicate art and rigorous science of vaccine manufacturing, and see their textbooks come to life on the factory floor.
One of the current pharmacist interns at BIOVAC and a UWC graduate, Mishka Naidoo, said: “It’s honestly been such an amazing experience. That transition from being a student to stepping into the working world and actually seeing everything we’ve studied over the past four years come to life. It’s so rewarding to be part of vaccine production, knowing that the work we do every day plays a role in protecting lives.”
Image: Shelley Christians/UWCNaidoo was part of the final-year pharmacy class that visited BIOVAC last year. The results of the post-visit survey spoke volumes. It revealed that 92% of students believed the experience would be helpful well beyond university, equipping them with practical knowledge for their careers. Even more telling, 79% reported that the visit made them reconsider their original career plans - opening doors to industry roles they might never have explored. For a cohort where more than half had initially leaned towards hospital pharmacy, the trip shifted perspectives towards manufacturing, quality control and pharmaceutical innovation.
Students highlighted the chance to interact directly with BIOVAC staff as one of the most valuable aspects of the visit. Most students felt the session became a two-way conversation rather than a passive tour.
Many were inspired by seeing pharmacists play crucial roles in quality assurance and production, which are roles not always visible in the classroom.
Image: Shelley Christians/UWCSpeaking on behalf of the school, Prof Samuel Egieyeh said globally, higher education is moving in this direction, embedding work-integrated learning into curricula to give graduates a competitive edge. From internships in Europe to cooperative education programmes in North America, the trend is clear - employers value graduates who have already stepped into real-world contexts.
“By connecting its students with BIOVAC, UWC aligns itself with this international best practice while directly addressing local needs,” said Prof Egieyeh.
For UWC pharmacy students, the BIOVAC visit did more than illustrate vaccine production. It offered a glimpse of their potential futures - where they are not only employable but indispensable - in a climate where young graduates hunger for opportunities. Experiences like these may be the most important lessons.
The visit, which included a guided tour of the laboratory and a skills development centre, left a lasting impression on both the students and faculty.
Prof Egieyeh, who is a member of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Platform for Harmonised African Health products Manufacturing (PHAHM), expressed heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity, “We are deeply grateful for the invaluable exposure our students received during their visit. The experience was not only educational, but truly illuminating.
Prof Egieyeh explained that witnessing theory applied in a professional environment gave students a concrete understanding of potential career paths. Experiencing formulation and quality control in practice, rather than only learning about it in lectures, allowed them to see how classroom knowledge translates into real-world work. The School of Pharmacy is a member of the Africa Centre for Disease Control’s Southern Africa Regional Capability and Capacity Network (RCCN) for Biomanufacturing.
“The RCCN is designed to build regional hubs for biomanufacturing, training, technology transfer and research collaboration, and we look forward to building on this engagement with members and exploring further opportunities to enrich our students’ learning journey,” said Prof Egieyeh.
