Bachelor of Science Honours in Formulation Science
Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences - Physical Sciences
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The purpose of the qualification is to produce:
- Learners who have developed a thorough understanding of the scientific principles of consumer and industrial product.
- Learners who can formulate and blend based on their broad scientific knowledge.
- Learners with a substantial competence in applying their knowledge and skills in research methods and practices relating to new product development.
- Learners with a thorough understanding of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, including corporate entrepreneurship, and who can contribute meaningfully to the economy and society through new product development.
- Learners that can contribute directly to Government and Industry strategic objectives, including the transformation of the leadership base for scientific product development research, as well as the education of future scientists, technologists, and engineers.
Formulation Chemistry:
Formulation Chemistry is concerned with the knowledge and practice of blending and mixing various components (chemical molecules) in a way that they do not react, but interact to provide a final product with very specific desirable properties or functions. Examples of formulated products include personal care products such as cosmetics, personal hygiene products such as soaps, toothpastes, etc., household chemical products such as cleaning agents, polishes, waxes, etc., pharmaceutical products, food chemicals, paints and varnishes, adhesives, and industrial chemical products such as fuels and lubricants, industrial explosives, mining chemicals, water treatment chemicals and many more.
Rationale:
Government and Industry have identified the lack of high-level workforce development skills in new product development as a key strategic issue in several strategic documents. In response to this, and to provide fit-for-purpose training for learners for one of the most rewarding jobs in the scientific field, this Institution has introduced the BSc Honours in Formulation Science. The qualification accommodates BSc learners with a chemistry background who are innovative, forward-thinking and entrepreneurial and who want to apply their chemistry knowledge to the consumer product industry, and become self-employed in a country where unemployment is high. The qualification is also designed to accommodate those already working in a formulation-related industry who wish to acquire formulation skills and understand the underlying science behind it to better solve industry-related formulation problems.
Outcomes
- Apply and use technologies and experimental techniques for the production of formulated consumer products of various formulation forms.
- Apply and use the principles of formulation science to develop new consumer products.
- Use advanced experimental design methodologies to design testing protocols for product integrity, stability and efficacy.
- Interpret the effect of regulatory constraints on new consumer product development.
- Design and optimise formulations and blends for specific product properties or actions.
- Apply and use principles of technological economics and marketing to evaluate commercial opportunities for new consumer products.
- Design and execute a new product development protocol.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Conduct a practical demonstration with different product forms
- Formulate using technologies and experimental techniques
- Prepare and submit practical reports demonstrating understanding and interpretation of results
- Prepare and submit a summative written assessment of knowledge gained during practicals
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Apply principles of formulation science to interpret practical results
- Solve formulation stability problems through case studies, assignments, and experimental work
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Use fundamentals of statistics to interpret trends in experimental data
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Apply regulations in various industries to different types of formulated products for compliance
- Assess an assignment and a written test
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Conduct product testing using mixture designs or factorial designs to optimize a formulation
- Submit an integrated formulation project using optimizing experimental methods
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Demonstrate understanding of basic principles of business, financial forecasting, product costing, marketing, and entrepreneurship
- Write a business plan
- Deliver a business pitch
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Present a new product development protocol through a written project proposal
- Include a project plan, formulation of product, interpretation and refinement of experimental data, a written research report
- Conduct an oral presentation and a product exhibition
Integrated Assessment:
- Incorporates continuous assessment in a modular manner
- Includes both formative and summative components
- Formative component includes written and oral assignments, tests, project reports, proposals, computer-based assignments, and practical reports
- Summative component is a portfolio of evidence demonstrating learning outcomes per module, subject to external moderation.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.