SAAFFI-Wits Flavour & Fragrance Technology Course 2024 Graduation
On the evening of the 7 May 2025, a group gathered at Definitive Conferencing, a beautiful venue in Edenvale, to celebrate the graduation of the students who studied the SAAFFI-Wits Course in Flavour & Fragrance Technology during 2024.
This course, which is held annually at Wits University School of Chemistry, and is also available online, comprises 12 lectures and 3 practical sessions. It is offered to 2nd year Applied Chemistry students at Wits, and is open to interested members of the flavour, fragrance and FMCG industries. While it is a South African based course, students from as far as Chile in South America have participated.
The flavour & fragrance industry is a little-known industry – but touches our lives from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, enhancing products from air fresheners to zaatar-flavoured snacks.
The graduating students – 26 from Wits university and 17 from the flavour & fragrance industry, spoke of the value of this course, and are inspired to build their career in this fascinating industry.
Words of welcome and thanks were offered to Shimadzu for their generous annual sponsorship, Mike Capon & Sensetek for their sponsorship of student prizes, Dr Maya Makatini, course-coordinator for the programme and the entire Wits School of Chemistry for their support and partnership, lecturers who dedicate their time to this course pro bono, facilitators of the practical sessions, the SAAFFI management committee and employers who pay for their employees to enrol, and give them the time needed to complete the course.
The guests invited by the graduates – parents, spouses, family, friends and children of some graduates – displayed a sense of pride in their “person” for an excellent achievement.
The programme for the evening included a welcome from Sharon Bolel, Executive Director, SAAFFI, encouraging words and good wishes form Dr Karina Rogers, chairperson of the SAAFFI management committee, congratulations from Prof Charles de Koning, Head, Wits School of Chemistry and a delightful speech on behalf of the students, given by Ndumiso Ndlela, a graduating student, who was also awarded the prize for being the top student.
After the certificates were presented, prizes, prizes sponsored by Sensetek, were presented to the two top graduating students – Ndumiso Ndlela and Heather Nkomo.
The evening was concluded in a celebratory mood with delicious refreshments and enjoyable networking.
For more information about the 2025 course, please contact Sharon Bolel on [email protected] or check the SAAFFI website www.saaffi.co.za.
SHARON BOLEL (MRS) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF THE FLAVOUR & FRAGRANCE INDUSTRY
DIRECT LINE +27 11 786 2585 | MOBILE +27 83 449 2696
[email protected] | http://www.saaffi.co.za
