Bordeaux / Basque Country / Navarre, May 2026.

The University of Bordeaux (UBx), the University of the Basque Country (EHU), and the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) have signed a collaboration agreement that strengthens this innovative international dual degree program in the field of oenology. This program has boosted international enrollment in recent years since its implementation in 2021.

 

The agreement will allow students to simultaneously obtain the French degree “Master Mention Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin” and the Spanish “Master Universitario en Enología Innovadora” (Master’s Degree in Innovative Oenology) from the EHU and UPNA, thus enhancing their academic and professional profile in a strategic sector. and global, like the wine industry.

 

Highly valued international training in the sector

The new training program combines the academic and scientific expertise of the three participating institutions, leaders in viticulture, oenology, and agri-food sciences. The program will integrate content on oenological processes, vineyard management, and the sustainability of the wine-growing environment, with a multidisciplinary, modern approach closely connected to the realities of the wine business.

 

The agreement establishes an academic mobility model in which students will complete part of their studies at the UPNA-NUP Pamplona campus and another part at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) campus. Subsequently, they can complete their training at the University of Barcelona (UBxs) campus, thus fostering an international experience. Thanks to this, students can obtain a master’s degree and, in addition, a second qualification: 

• Master’s Degree in Innovative Oenology, awarded jointly by the University of the Basque Country (EHU) and the UPNA.

• Master Mention Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin parcours Œnologie et procédés ou parcours vigne et environnement vitivinicole de l’UBx f Bordeaux Sciences Agro, by the UBx.

 

According to the Rector of the University of the Basque Country (EHU), Joxerra Bengoetxea, “with the signing of this agreement between the Public University of Navarre (UPNA), the University of Bordeaux (UBx), and the University of the Basque Country (EHU) to develop the Master’s Degree in Innovative Oenology, the possibility is opened for EHU students to obtain a dual degree, with part of their training taking place in Bordeaux, and vice versa. Furthermore, it increases the number of undergraduate programs from which students can enroll in the Master’s program.” Regarding this, some of the undergraduate degrees that, as a new feature, allow access to the Master’s Degree in Innovative Oenology include diplomas in Food Science and Technology; Food Process and Product Innovation; Business Administration; Marketing; Biology; Chemistry; and Agri-food and Rural Engineering, to name a few.

 

Rector Bengoetxea added that “the wine industry currently faces multiple and complex challenges such as climate change, the need for sustainable production practices, the worrying decline in traditional consumption, and the growing entry of new and innovative competitors. These challenges present unparalleled opportunities for the Master’s students. They will be the main protagonists and catalysts for the changes necessary for wineries to adapt to these challenges through innovation in their products, processes, and even new business and marketing models.”

 

Quality, specialization, and employability: key points in the cooperation

The next academic year, 2026-2027, for which pre-registration is now open, will admit up to five students per university (limiting the total number of places to a maximum of 15). Students will be selected based on criteria of academic excellence, coherence of the training project, and motivation.

 

The three universities are committed to ensuring the academic quality of the program, as well as the mutual recognition of credits according to the European ECTS system. During the program, students will develop advanced technical skills and complete a final master’s thesis under the joint supervision of the three institutions, which will be evaluated by an international panel. Furthermore, the agreement establishes an academic monitoring committee responsible for coordinating the program’s development and continuous improvement.

 

This agreement strengthens international cooperation between France and Spain in higher education and consolidates a strategic alliance in a sector that is key to the economy and culture of both countries.

In this regard, the Rector of the Public University of Navarre, Ramón Gonzalo, pointed out that “the signing of this agreement between the University of Bordeaux, the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, and the Public University of Navarre allows students of the Master’s in Innovative Oenology to obtain a dual international degree, strengthening their specialized training and expanding their academic and professional opportunities in the wine sector.” He also emphasized that “this agreement consolidates the Euroregional strategy in which the Public University of Navarre has been involved since 2016 and reinforces student mobility as part of the collaborations being developed in cross-border territories.”

 

The rector also emphasized that “this agreement will facilitate the development of research projects between the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) and an internationally renowned university in the field of viticulture and oenology. All of this will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of our wineries, improving product quality, and consolidating Navarre as a leading region in the wine sector.”

 

An Enriching Learning Ecosystem

This agreement represents a decisive step in the internationalization of oenology education and opens new opportunities for students in a highly specialized global market. This has been particularly evident in the profile of students admitted in recent years, with representatives from almost every continent and with very diverse prior training, creating a truly enriching learning environment and professional networking opportunities for the future.

“This dual degree fully illustrates what university education should be today: international, connected to economic sectors, and rooted in local communities,” emphasizes Dean Lewis, Rector of the University of Bordeaux (UBx). “It strengthens both the appeal of our degrees and the employability of our students in a strategic wine sector.”

Tags: master, oenology