A flexible master's programme

Jeanett Borsdal, MSc in Pharmacy
Head of Section, Regional Quality
Managers’ network
H. Lundbeck A/S

Currently working on her master’s project.

I started the MIND programme to increase my insight into drug development. When I first started my title was Clinical Operations Manager (later Head of Section in Clinical Operations) and I was part of the core team working on development projects. Each core team had members representing all the different steps in the drug development process. Through the programme, I quickly developed a solid theoretical foundation in all the different aspects of drug development, which made it easier for me to engage in conversation with the core teams – even when they got really technical.

Through the programme, I quickly developed a solid theoretical foundation in all the different aspects of drug development, which made it easier for me to engage in conversation with the core teams – even when they got really technical.

Jeanett Borsdal, H. Lundbeck

Today, I am the Head of Section for our RQM’s (Regional Quality Managers) who oversee the phase II and III studies we have outsourced to different CRO’s (Contract Research Organisations). As the sponsor, we need to control the quality of both the CRO’s and the sites and that is what our RQM’s help us do. The RQM’s work globally and are located all around the world, reporting directly to me in Denmark. Managing them at a distance makes it more difficult to get input about their challenges and their performance since I don’t see them on a daily basis. Distance is not the only challenge, our different cultural backgrounds mean that we have different perceptions of how we think is the right way to act in a given situation.

The flexible MIND

Thankfully, the flexibility of the MIND programme has made it possible for me to do my master’s project, together with a colleague, on one of my key professional challenges - distance management and cultural differences/challenges. We are in a very early phase of the work on our project right now and it is really motivating to put a theoretical perspective on something I deal with everyday. The master’s project is very relevant to my work and will hopefully also benefit others within Lundbeck.

At Lundbeck our most important resources are our employees. That’s why it’s so important that they are skilled professionals. Their strength and talent defines our market position so investing in our employees is a high priority.

Dorte Arnbjerg, Divisional Director, Global Study Management, H. Lundbeck A/S, Jeanett's boss 

I think flexibility is one of the real strengths of the MIND programme. In my case, I will have taken four years to complete my master’s degree, by the time I’ve finished. In that period both my job description and the size of my family has changed. It’s one thing to make the job/family equation add up but topping that with a fair amount of travel and a master’s programme makes flexibility crucial.

Happily, I have been able to take the courses in the order that suited me best and I have been able to change the scope of my master’s to reflect changes in my job.

Given the large amount of work and hours a master’s degree requires it is crucial that the programme adds value – both for the division and me. And the MIND programme has certainly done that.