Thames Valley University (TVU) hopes to launch what it claims will be the first course in the UK for chefs working in, or hoping to work in, product development.
The Advanced Food Product Development course, which is backed by the Development Chefs' Network (DCN), was supposed to start last September, but failed to attract the minimum 10 students required to make it viable.
The one day a week, 30-week course, due to begin this month, will lead to a personal and professional development certificate and equip chefs with the skills and understanding to develop foods for manufacturing, claimed TVU.
It covers: food science and technology; hygiene and microbiology; processing and manufacturing; and planning, monitoring and development of a chef's performance.
DCN's Mark Rigby said that the course would only gain credibility if the industry revealed more about product development. He said the aim was to set up similar courses in other universities and possibly use distance learning.
The first course starts on Tuesday February 15 with a follow-up planned for Tuesday October 4. Contact Sally Crosbie on 020 8231 2221 or david.foskett@tvu.ac.uk.