Continuing Education

October 2010

Applied Sensory Science and Consumer Testing Certificate Program for Online Learners

The Applied Sensory Science and Consumer Testing Certificate Program offered by UC Davis Extension is the industry-recognized leader for the education of sensory professionals. Drawing on cutting-edge research and the real-world knowledge of expert instructors, the program is designed for working professionals interested in learning new techniques or brushing up on the theory behind current methods of sensory evaluation for both food and non-food products. Since the program began eight years ago, it has trained students from more than 30 countries and a wide variety of industries. The certificate program is offered completely online and consists of a sequence of four consecutive courses. Students move through the courses as a cohort beginning each September. Program starts on October 4, 2010 and ends on September 16, 2011.

Location: On-line, United States
From: October 4, 2010 to October 4, 2010
Offered by: UC Davis Extension Program
Target audience: Beginner
Cost: $8000 for all 4 courses; $2000 per course

Further information: http://www.extension.ucdavis.edu/sensory or call (800) 752-0881

Targeting the Consumer III: Advanced Consumer Science for Product Innovation

Sensory and consumer research is changing, and those who practice traditional sensory research and look at consumer research as just demographics are being left behind. Successful innovation demands working relationships with product managers and with marketing. Sensory and consumer research need to have the tools to add to the mix of talents in NPD. This course is aimed at providing the knowledge and tools to enhance the contribution of our research to the innovation process. Targeting the Consumer III builds on the success of our two Targeting the Consumer courses. It adds entirely new material to some topics such as Consumer Segmentation, and offers entirely new topics such as Price and Brand. In this way, Sensory and Consumer Testing can become a more valuable component of the New Product Development process, by offering new methods, new data and new statistical analysis techniques.

Location: Microtek Labs, Chicago, Illinois, United States
From: October 5, 2010 to October 7, 2010
Offered by: Dr. Hal MacFie Consulting
Target audience: Advanced
Cost: $2400; 25% discount for members of academia

Further information: http://www.halmacfie.com/pages/chicagooct2010.html

Hands on Preference Mapping and Consumer/Sensory Statistics

This course forms a hands-on introduction to those statistical methods needed by a sensory and consumer scientist wishing to analyse data from consumer tests. Mainly based around the use of XLSTAT, attendees will gain practical experience using real-life examples and will be able to save their work to take away with a free copy of XLSTAT and XLSTAT-MX so they will be competent to start using their expertise from day 1 after the course. Attendees will also receive a 6 month license for Design Express – the powerful QI Statistics consumer trial design software and a number of specialised Excel spreadsheets.

Location: MEDIASITE 42, rue Legendre 75017 Paris, France
From: October 20, 2010 to October 22, 2010
Offered by: Dr. Hal MacFie Consulting
Target audience: Beginner
Cost: €2100; 25% discount for members of academia

Further information: http://www.halmacfie.com/pages/parisoct2010.html

November 2010

Targeting the Consumer II: Advanced Consumer Science for New Product Development and Choice Trials

The sequel to targeting the consumer I. This course aims to give you the latest knowledge and tools from across sensory, consumer, psychological and statistical sciences to ensure your work is at the forefront of methodology. After an update session detailing how the science has moved on in relation to the topics we covered in Targeting I, we examine more aspects of the New Product Development process. In the next three sessions we examine tools and theory to help Sensory and Consumer Insights staff integrate their work into the Marketing process. In the final session we examine recent developments in choice modelling, and see how consumer science is addressing the analysis of cross-cultural trials. A key feature of Targeting I courses was the time and value given to participants' discussion. This will be continued in this course. In every hour at least 15 minutes will be devoted to discussion and/or exercises. The small class size will also encourage interaction among participants, and between participants and instructors. Discussion is also encouraged during group lunches and dinner.

Location: Hôtel Atala Champs Elysées,10, Rue Châteaubriand 75008 Paris, France
From: November 2, 2010 to November 4, 2010
Offered by: Dr. Hal MacFie Consulting
Target audience: Intermediate
Cost: 1750 Euro; 25% discount for members of academia

Further information: http://www.halmacfie.com/pages/parisnov2010.html

Drivers of Liking®, Segmentation and Portfolio Optimization

This course is taught in the dynamic context of a consumer products company. The story engages participants as critical management decisions are made concerning advertising, new product introduction, product repositioning, concept evaluation, and portfolio optimization. During the first 3.5 days, participants will learn how to conduct a Landscape Segmentation Analysis® (LSA); generate maps based on liking or purchase interest; find consumer segments and product locations in a drivers of liking space; design and interpret tests for claims support; understand how the NAD reviews product claims, and much more. The last 1.5 days is an optional IFP Programs™ Workshop providing hands-on, interactive experience using the IFPrograms software to map products and consumers using LSA.

Location: The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States
From: November 8, 2010 to November 12, 2010
Offered by: The Institute for Perception
Target audience: Intermediate
Cost: $2350 for Nov 8-12 (includes the IFP Programs™ Workshop); $1850 for Nov 8-11 (without the IFP Programs™ Workshop)

Further information: http://www.ifpress.com/pdfs/Courses/Fall%202010%20Course%20Brochure.pdf