First post-grad flavour and fragrance course open for enrollment

The South African Association of the Flavour and Fragrance Industry (SAAFFI), in conjunction with the University of Johannesburg, has custom-designed a groundbreaking university course at NQF-7 level in order to attract newly graduating students to the exciting and creative world of fragrance and flavour serving the food, beverage, cosmetic, toiletry and detergent industries.

There has been a severe shortage of skills in the flavour and fragrance industry for a number of years, which has led to SAAFFI developing this course as a ‘bridge' between academia and the working world for newly graduated students, up to 70% of whom have no idea in which industry to spread their wings. Many, if not most, are completely unaware of the option of branching out into the many sectors of the flavour and fragrance industry and the diverse FMCG industry it serves.

The course consists of two parts: BTech Operations Management (Faculty of Management), duration one year from 18h00 to 21h00 every week night; and a focused programme in flavours and fragrances (Faculty of Science), duration six months, the lecturing part of which will be held in block format daily from mid-June to mid-July. The course is flexible in that students can take both parts concurrently (one year) or consecutively (18 months), and with a pass of both parts the graduates will receive a BTech Diploma in Operations Management, as well as a UJ credit bearing Certificate in Flavours and Fragrances, both of which will be endorsed by SAAFFI. Separate registrations are required for the two parts. That for the BTech Operations Management (405-3) is done online through the UJ portal and closes on 30 November 2008. Initial registration for the flavour and fragrance part will be by sending your details to SAAFFI at .

Registration for this short five-week course will close at the end of January 2009. Course dates for the Btech Operations Management course are from 2 February 2009 - 22 May 2009 (terms 1 and 2) and from 13 July 2009 - 23 October 2009 (terms 3 and 4).

Entrance requirements are a qualification at NQF-6 level in any degree - and the sciences, microbiology and chemistry would dovetail especially well with the course. Learning areas covered are General Business, Operations, Creative and Application and Sensory and Marketing and the entire course costs R25 000 (excluding books), with a number of bursaries available. A more detailed curriculum can be seen on the ‘Education & Careers' page of the SAAFFI website http://www.saaffi.co.za

The desired outcome of this course is to have a pool of trained people with a sound and broad understanding of flavours and fragrances and their application within the various divisions of the FMCG industry. As a result of the skills gained in this course, graduates will be capable of performing properly and efficiently within a month of being employed.

Additionally, those already involved in the Flavour and Fragrance industry or the FMCG industry - or in fact anyone strongly drawn to the course - who would like to expand their knowledge and embrace the skills related to the flavour and fragrance industry are able to take only the second portion of the course resulting in a SAAFFI-endorsed UJ Certificate in Flavours and Fragrances. They will attend the block format portion of the course from mid-June to mid-July and will have a project to complete during the 3rd academic term. The cost will be R8 000. A senior certificate with university endorsement (matriculation with university exemption) is the entry requirement, although in some cases prior experience may be accepted as Recognised Previous Learning. Students may later complete the B-Tech Operations Management to obtain the complete qualification. Initial registration is by sending your details to SAAFFI at .