August 4, 2015 · Team HG
Today, all wine educators (including ROCs) in the Netherlands were informed of several important changes to the wine education system. New standards are being applied that comply with European standards, and the quality and currency of the exams are better ensured.
The reason for this step lies in the wine industry's need for a transparent and independent organization in which tasks and responsibilities are separated. The wine importers and distributors united in the KVNW, the Koninklijke SlijtersUnie, and the Wijnacademie as the largest wine educator in the Netherlands, will henceforth use the new final and assessment criteria of the Stichting Wijn Onderwijs Nederland (SWON) as the standard. This means that the levels established by the SWEN in recent years are no longer supported or recognized by the aforementioned organizations.
The most significant changes in the new system lie primarily in the method of registration and certification of the exams. According to the relevant authorities, a separation of standards, training, and exams is furthermore necessary for an officially recognized diploma system. The development of wine education in the Netherlands calls for such professionalization and improvement of the entire organization. The new final and assessment terms for SWON will be available in early September, at the start of the new academic year.
Incidentally, students and candidates will not notice any of the change. The prices and the difficulty of the exams remain unchanged. Diplomas already obtained based on the SWEN standards retain their value. However, SWEN diplomas issued after January 1, 2016, will no longer be recognized for, among others, the Basic Wine Merchant Diploma, the Professional Wine Merchant Diploma, and as proof of admission to the Vinologist training program.
The launch of the new structure in wine education will take place on September 22 during the National Wine Teachers' Day.
