NFOK14031U Thematic Course in Food Innovation and Health

Volume 2023/2024
Education

MSc Programme in Food Innovation and Health

Content

The course contains two parts. Initially an intensive two week teaching program that gives overview of concepts and methods used in a scientific approach to small-scale food production and topics related to open innovation, business models, value proposition and value capturing. In part two, students work project-based in groups with development, pitching and consumer tests of food products. This latter part is based on challenges posed by companies or organisations. 

Teaching program 
The scientific focus is application of modern preparation and processing methods, and the effect of these methods on the physical, chemical and sensory properties of food with regard to creating aesthetic, palatable, sustainalbe, and healthy foods. A focus on understanding successful food companies’ business models and open innovation strategies is applied.

  • Food Design Thinking approach: ideation, prototyping and production of foods under various constraints (time, materials, economy, techniques) to develop an innovative mind-set, increase students’ creativity and promote action-oriented work based on own academic and professional competences. 
  • Practical exercises in lab-kitchen utilizing a selection of culinary techniques. 
  • Exercises in ideation and open innovation.
  • Exercise with reflection over business models and open innovation processes.
  • Real business cases with development of new food products.


In the project phase students work independently in groups with a challenge from a company or an organisation. The problem is analysed and solved in a scientific manner, and the subject is discussed using competences acquired through the teaching period and preceeding course work in the education programme. The approach trains students to apply their theoretical background to create new food products using their scientific approach to food preparation, food chemistry, consumer experience and behaviour.

Learning Outcome

It is the aim to establish an open innovation with a scientific foundation and to provide the students with an insight to put their knowledge of culinary techniques to practical use of techniques and ingredients, in order to renew cooking, food production and create new products. Among the topics are responsible use of ingredients, and upcycling to reduce food waste. 

Knowledge

  • Give an overview over preference formation in relation to food, meals and eating.


Skills 

  • Adapt methods of preparation for different raw materials based on a rational scientific foundation. 
  • Use techniques for innovation and creativity related to development of new foods and New Product Development (NPD).
  • Analyze and integrate open innovation and value proposition, theories and practices, to understand how food companies operate and compete in the market.
  • Work systematically in a kitchen development laboratory with chosen experimental techniques and culinary methods.
  • Use digital technologies to capture and evaluate work and progress in the development situation.
  • Production of prototypes of complex foods, production in pilot scale of complex foods.
  • Consumer tests with products, including considerations regarding subjects' data rights (GDPR) using digital platforms.
  • Reflection upon own development, and ability to see opportunities in innovation, intra- and entrepreneurship.
  • Communicate (oral and in writing) topics in the culinary area with regards to innovation in foods.
  • Integrate preference formation in relation to food, meals, and eating into the development of healthy, sustainable, and palatable foods.


Competences

  • Apply scientific approach to food innovation and small scale food production. 
  • Implement ideation, open innovation, and value proposition design to develop new food products, focused on health, palatability, sustainability, and circular economy. 
  • Integrate academic disciplines (food chemistry/physics, sensory science, innovation and nutritional aspects) to innovation and business development in the food sector. 
  • Apply Food Design Thinking in the innovation process.
  • Adapt techniques for characterization of sensory properties and consumer experiences to test foods in various stages of the innovation cycle.
  • Apply relevant statistical methods on obtained data. 
  • Interdisciplinary cooperation with other students on planning, carrying out and evaluating experiments in relation to new product development of healthy and palatable foods.  
  • Work independently and efficiently together in a team on joint projects.
  • Pitch food concepts to professionals and relevant employers/​purchasers. 
Literature

See Absalon for a list of course literature.

 

 

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.

It is recommended to follow the course on the second year of the MSc programme in Food Innovation and Health. Especially to have skills within food chemistry, innovation, consumer behaviour, statistics, and to have knowledge about how to bring a health promoting product to the market.
Lectures, exercises and project work. The project work will be carried out in student groups and results in two outcomes: new food products and a project portfolio. The portfolio will contain different elements developed and handed in over the project period (e.g. interview guide, feedback reflections, pitches and presentations). Some portfolio parts require student presence.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 40
  • Theory exercises
  • 19
  • Practical exercises
  • 15
  • Project work
  • 292
  • Guidance
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 412
Written
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 25 min
Type of assessment details
The exam consists of two equal parts:
1. Project report in groups. Weight 50% of the final exam grade.
2. Individual oral examination without preparation time in the portfolio, the report and the course curriculum. Weight 50% of the final exam grade.

Both parts must be passed in order for the course to be passed.
Exam registration requirements

Approval of all portfolio parts. Portfolio parts are done groups and consist of multiple parts with deadlines throughout the course. 

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

Same as ordinary exam.

All portfolio parts must be approved in order for the student to go the re-exam. Un-passed portfolio parts must be edited and resubmitted two weeks before the re-examination date.

Unpassed project report must be edited and resubmitted one week before the re-examination date.

Any previously passed portfolio parts and passed project report will be reused.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome.