The WSET Social Impact Award-winning International Wine Education Centre team celebrating their win.
From record-breaking sake education campaigns in Japan to transforming access to qualifications in South Africa, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the global leader in drinks education, has announced the winners of its inaugural Excellence in Education Awards, honouring outstanding achievement across its worldwide network of more than 800 course providers.
The awards, presented in a virtual ceremony at WSET's annual Global APP Summit on 18 September 2026, recognise excellence across three categories: Enterprise, Student Experience and Social Impact. The winners and highly commended recipients span six countries across three continents, reflecting the diversity, innovation and impact of WSET course providers worldwide. The awards attracted 110 submissions from across 28 countries and territories, highlighting the breadth of talent, innovation and impact across WSET's global network.
The Social Impact Award went to the International Wine Education Centre (IWEC) in South Africa, recognising 15 years of work widening access to drinks education and creating opportunities for learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
Judges were particularly impressed by IWEC's sustained investment in scholarships, payment support and educational programmes that have helped hundreds of learners access WSET qualifications.
This year's other winners were Academie du Vin Co Ltd. (Japan), recipient of the Enterprise Award for its innovative WSET Sake Week campaign that generated record enrolments and engaged new audiences in sake education; WiSP (France), winner of the Student Experience Award for its personalised and inclusive approach to learning, combining expert teaching with innovative educational tools.
Highly Commended recipients were Enderun Colleges Inc. (Philippines) for creating meaningful career opportunities through drinks education; Eno Cultura (Brazil) for its commitment to wine education, learner engagement and social impact, becoming the only course provider to receive highly commended status in all three award categories; Panama Wine Academy (Panama) for advancing inclusion and diversity through drinks education; and TAFE NSW Sydney Wine Academy (Australia) for developing the next generation of wine professionals through high-quality education and industry engagement.
Michelle Brampton, CEO of WSET, said: “Course providers are at the heart of everything we do at WSET. They bring our qualifications to life, inspire learners and help us fulfil our purpose of empowering people and supporting the drinks industry from producer to consumer.
We launched the Excellence in Education Awards to recognise and celebrate that contribution. The quality of submissions was exceptional, and I'm delighted to see the achievements of our winners and highly commended recipients recognised today.”
Cathy Marston, co-owner of The International Wine Education Centre, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to receive this award. It's a great validation of everything we try to do to make WSET courses as accessible as possible. When you've seen the difference a qualification can make in someone's life, helping them change their future, it's the best feeling in the world."
Excellence in Education Awards' winners and highly commended recipients
Enterprise Award
- Winner: Academie du Vin Co Ltd. (Japan)
- Highly Commended: Enderun Colleges Inc. (Philippines)
- Highly Commended: Eno Cultura (Brazil)
Student Experience Award
- Winner: WiSP (France)
- Highly Commended: Eno Cultura (Brazil)
- Highly Commended: TAFE NSW Sydney Wine Academy (Australia)
Social Impact Award
- Winner: The International Wine Education Centre (South Africa)
- Highly Commended: Eno Cultura (Brazil)
- Highly Commended: Panama Wine Academy (Panama)