ALUMNI: Academia-Industry Collaboration Program

Abstract

This project proposed the ALUMNI initiative to formalize collaboration between Bristol Myers Squibb Manatí and local academic institutions. It was designed to address the absence of a structured framework for local student engagement in biopharmaceutical operations. A phased methodology guided the development of standardized project workflows, onboarding protocols, and a mentorship model. The program was structured around five pillars: Summer Internship, Capstone Projects, Practice/Shadowing, Outreach, and Cooperative Education. Literature on university-industry partnerships informed the design, emphasizing competency development and institutional coordination. A Core Team was proposed to oversee governance, including representatives from Finance, Human Resources, Operational Excellence, and stakeholder leadership. A prototype model was prepared for deployment with selected academic partners, supported by a roadmap and performance metrics. The initiative was positioned as a scalable solution to enhance talent development, community outreach, and innovation within the biopharmaceutical sector.