The free online courses on the topic of wine are designed to make education and knowledge accessible to all – for wine specialists, students and wine fans alike. Identifying the broadest possible target group for education is not just a key objective for IMC Krems as it marks the International Day of Education on 24 January; it also shapes the university’s curriculum, research and values. Digital learning is a means to achieve all of its goals in the shape of high-quality, barrier-free education for various target groups, accompanied by research activities.
It also reflects the university’s unswerving commitment to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, Quality Education. The aim of SDG 4 is to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Developed as part of a joint erasmus+ project, the contents of the online courses are derived from degree programmes at IMC Krems, Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany, and the University of Camerino in Italy.
Wine education with online courses and tasting programmes
“It’s no exaggeration to say that wine is the most complex product group in the world. We have decided to focus on online courses in order to prevent further delays in offering wine education and to avoid the risk of shortcomings in the tasting skills of prospective students on the wine degree programme,” reported Albert Stöckl, director of the International Wine Business programme at IMC Krems.
A series of short videos and podcasts provide in-depth information about wine and wine tasting, presenting specific wine-related concepts in visual form in various languages.
Wine know-how for all
Alongside students, anyone with an interest in wine can take advantage of the online courses. Designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of potential participants, the courses provide insights into winegrowing regions, grape varieties and wine styles all over the world. The aim of the international project is to enable disadvantaged groups, busy professionals and those with disabilities to enhance their knowledge of wine whenever they want, no matter where they are.
Videos and podcasts freely available
The course contents are based on the curriculum for IMC Krems’ International Wine Business degree programme. Building on the programme handouts and other materials, the contents have been adapted to audio and video formats and are available in the form of concise video clips and podcasts. A multi-language glossary of specialist wine terms is also being prepared. Audio clips of the terms help participants to master their pronunciation, while the accompanying videos provide deeper insights into the contents. Participants can also improve their knowledge and put their expertise to the test with an online quiz at the end of each video.
Courses online now
Launched at the end of 2022, the courses are free of charge. The main advantage is that the content is always available online. No matter where they live, participants can work through the material at their own speed when it suits them – ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, fully in line with SDG 4 and the university’s goals .
