WSET Certification Halted in China, Educational Activities Blocked
(January 30, 2021 – Shanghai, China) Over the past few days, WSET training institutions across China have been revealing details of the official email correspondence they have received from WSET which temporarily ceases all WSET training and certification activities in the country.
WSET president Ian Harris stated in the email: “We have been advised to temporarily shelve all WSET-related activities in China, including all WSET courses and related examinations…We are currently working with all relevant departments to ensure that we are able to reinstate these WSET activities as soon as possible.”
According to the WSET website, all WSET certifications (excluding the Level 3 Award in Liquors) are regulated by OfQual, an institution established by the British government to administrate qualifications and testing, but are not regulated by any other organization or governing body. These WSET certifications include the Level 1, 2, and 3 Awards in Wines, the Level 2 and 3 Awards in Liquors, and the Level 1 and 3 Awards in Sake.
Furthermore, according to Chinese regulations, programs engaging in large-scale recruiting within the country are required to gain approval by the Ministry of Education, while programs brought into China from overseas must be endorsed by the Ministries of Education, Culture, and Civil Affairs. As evidenced by current circumstances, WSET had not undergone the appropriate procedures for operating in China.
Back in 2006, only 60 Chinese students were enrolled in WSET programs each year; in the school year ending July 31, 2018, however, China had become WSET’s largest student body, with a total of 21,986 Chinese students enrolled in WSET programs and 175 licensed training institutes providing WSET courses and certifications in China. Following the development of the Chinese wine market, China had quickly become WSET’s strongest overseas market, and WSET certifications were receiving widespread acceptance and approval within the industry.
On February 1, WSET posted an update on their official website, stating that “due to administrative reasons, we have temporarily ceased our services in China. We also recommend that all WSET program suppliers in China temporarily cease their WSET activities at this time, including all courses and examinations.” Meanwhile, WSET also expressed that “over the past 15 years, WSET has offered continuous support to China’s beverage professionals and hobbyists through our wine, liquor, and sake training programs, of which we remain incredibly proud. We will continue to devote ourselves to the Chinese market.”
