Five MW students win special IWSC Foundation scholarship
IMW supporter IWSC Foundation has awarded five stage two MW students with a special scholarship due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They each share a portion of £25,000.
IWSC Foundation made the fund available to current stage two MW students experiencing financial hardship.
The purpose of the scholarship is to support students who otherwise might have struggled to complete their studies due to lack of funds – job loss or a reduction in earnings, for example – given the global pandemic. Applicants were asked to provide details of their situation and to describe how the funding would benefit them. The applications were then assessed on a case-by-case basis by IWSC Foundation.
The Foundation awarded 10 MW students a scholarship of the same nature in July 2021.
Christelle Guibert, CEO of the IWSC said, “The IWSC Foundation is dedicated to supporting education within our industry, and with the last two challenging years, many students have been forced to halt their studies. We are delighted that our financial support will help the five students selected in completing their journey to become an MW.”
Sarah Harrison, head of study programme and development at the IMW said, “The pandemic has made the last two years incredibly challenging for these scholarship winners who, despite this, have worked so hard to keep studying. I am delighted that these five students are able to stay on the MW study programme with the incredibly generous support of the IWSC Foundation.”
IWSC Foundation is a non-profit organisation and the charitable arm of the IWSC. Established in October 2018, it aims to advance the causes that are key to the growth and long-term health of the wine and spirit industry globally. The Foundation awards grants to individuals and organisations that support and advance their core objectives.
Due to the sensitive nature of this scholarship, the IMW will not name the students who received a share of the fund.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Kara Tonitto
Marketing and Communications Officer
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0) 207 383 9139
ktonitto@mastersofwine.org
Notes to editors:
About the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW)
The IMW is a membership organisation with an exceptional international reputation. For almost 70 years, its members – the Masters of Wine (MWs) – have been at the forefront of leadership and expertise in the world of wine. The IMW’s mission is to promote excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. MWs prove their comprehensive understanding of wine by passing the MW exam, recognised worldwide for its rigour and exacting standards. In addition to passing the exam, members must sign the code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. This requires them to uphold the highest standards of commercial conduct within the industry. Today, there are 418 Masters of Wine working in 30 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, journalists, shippers, consultants, academics, educators and more. There are 376 students from 41 countries in the 2020-2021 MW study programme. The IMW works with 31 supporters and one academic and research associate, who help promote the IMW’s mission. The five principal supporters are Austrian Wine, AXA Millésimes, Constellation Brands, the Madame Bollinger Foundation, and Waitrose and Partners.