International Centre for Aroma Trades Studies (ICATS)

Long Distance Diploma

Industry need for the programme

The industry has made use of the original programme devised by David Williams for some 25 years. The need for flexible provision of Aroma Trades education is increasing rather than decreasing for the following reasons:

• In the increasingly competitive environment companies no longer have time for extended apprenticeships.
• The use of senior staff in training has become more and more difficult. Calls on such staff’s time are becoming higher and higher due to the increasingly high demands on their time (e.g. regulatory compliance activities).
• Similarly, releasing more junior staff for extended ‘off-line’ training courses is equally unfeasible. Flexible delivery which can be built around the business demands is required.
• The globalisation of the entire industry value chain demands that staff must be highly competent and highly trained.

The ICATS distance-learning course provides a cost-effective, flexible component in the training of professional staff. It provides a global view of the Aroma Trades industry so that individuals can improve their performance and fit their role into a broader company and industry context.

For aroma chemicals and essential producers and distributors the programme not only provides specific coverage of this level of the industry, but also provides insight into how and why the materials are used in the creative compounding house. Better understanding of customers improves sales performance.

For staff in creative houses, key issues such as management of the brief are considered, thereby improving team performance. The coverage of the nature and manufacture of aroma materials (natural and synthetic) provides the essential grounding that is needed by all involved in the creative house.

For the recent graduate, the programme provides the answer to the question ‘What is special about the Aroma Trades industry?’ The coverage from production to finished consumer product provides that essential overview of the industry that the growing professional needs. Both management issues (e.g. management of new product development) and technical issues (e.g. production of essential oils and aroma chemicals) are included.

For existing professionals in the industry who want to make that next promotional step up in the industry, the programme provides that vital broader perspective and deeper skill base. Each level of the industry is considered and both technical and management issues are covered.

For non-science-based candidates, the necessary grounding is provided in the foundation unit.

The Aroma trade is:

Art + Science + Technology + Management

The ICATS Diploma programme provides the necessary perspectives to succeed in the multi-disciplinary global Aroma Trades Industry.

Aims of the programme

• To provide Aroma Trades developing professionals with a firm grounding of knowledge and understanding to develop their careers and their contribution to the industry.
• To add value to the industry and to add value to individual professionals.

• To provide students with the theory, subject knowledge and skills to enhance their professional performance in the Aroma Trades industry
• To provide this support on a global basis
• To provide an integrative treatment of value to young professionals in a variety of roles in all levels of the industry value chain from manufacture of aroma materials to the marketing of fragranced products
• To provide a framework of formative assessments to prepare candidates for the successful completion of the programme with the 50-credit dissertation marked by the appointed IFEAT examiner

• Aroma material producers: Production, QA, R&D, trainers, sales and marketing
• Bulkers, distillers, brokers, distributors and agents: Production, buying, QA, R&D, trainers, sales and marketing
• Creative perfumery house: Creative perfumers, evaluators, technical support, production, trainers, buying, QA, R&D, sales and marketing
• Brand and contract manufacturers: Creative perfumers, evaluators, technical support, production, trainers, buying, QA, R&D, sales and marketing
• Retail chains: Technical support, buying, QA, R&D, trainers, product managers

Structure and content of the programme

The course is structured into 13 individual units.

Unit 1 Foundation science and mathematics for the Aroma Trades
A module introducing the key chemical, physical and mathematical concepts needed to underpin the core modules of the Aroma Trades Studies programme.

Unit 2 Sensory studies and odour language
A module providing the student with the necessary background on the olfactory process, the basic concepts of olfaction, introducing the student to a generic scheme for the classification of odours and developing the student’s organoleptic skills.