Definition: Research Centre, Changins

The Changins Research and Training Centre in Nyon (Vaud, Switzerland) comprises: The Agroscope RAC Changins-Wädenswil ACW research station, which is part of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) Changins School of Engineering, a training centre for viticulture, oenology and arboriculture, or how to become an oenologist (Bachelor HES-SO in Oenology and Master HES-SO), the Specialised School (ESp), where you can train to become a crop manager or team leader on a farm or in a winery, and the Wine School, where you can take modular continuing education courses in oenology and viticulture.

Changins could be described as a beautiful stranger. Everyone talks about it, but no one really knows what goes on there. This mystery is maintained by activities that are difficult to imagine when one hears terms such as agricultural zoology or weed science. Instead of deterring the general public, these barbaric terms have, on the contrary, attracted many curious visitors, nearly 5,500 in total, during the open day on 16 June 2003. The various interactive exhibitions were very popular, with tastings of new grape varieties, applied biology and plant cloning being just a few examples. On one side was agricultural research (RAC), i.e. the federal station, and on the other, those who will benefit from it later, i.e. the students of the School of Engineering. The latter also inaugurated its new premises.

Improving agricultural techniques:

In summary, the station is responsible in Switzerland for research in the areas of field crops, viticulture and oenology, medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as berries and greenhouse crops. One hundred and eighty employees, including 50 scientists, study species, track diseases in search of solutions and develop new ideas with the aim of improving agricultural techniques.

Website:

http://www.acw.admin.ch/aktuell/?lang=fr

http://www.changins.ch/

Changins School of Engineering

The School of Engineering prepares the professionals of tomorrow, who will work in the wine (oenologists, wine merchants, winegrowers), fruit (arborists) and wine sectors, as it is the only school in Switzerland to train HES engineers in oenology. "We have renewed ourselves, many initiatives have been put in place and the wine school has enabled us to open up to the public," explains the director, Dr. ès Sc. Jean-Philippe Mayor. "We are evolving with society and the reality of Swiss wine. In this respect, internships abroad are very beneficial to our 230 students."

The complementarity with the station is also ideal, as its strength lies in the direct transfer between research, training, outreach and professionals, 80% of whom pass through Changins. In this way, former students become contributors, and the partnership is therefore ongoing. It is a process of constant renewal.

Training objectives

HES engineers specialising in oenology are distinguished by their high-level technical, theoretical and practical skills in the fields of viticulture, oenology and business management. In viticulture, they have a theoretical and practical mastery of areas relating to soil, climate, ampelography, cultivation methods, machinery and phytopathology. They have the knowledge necessary to set up and manage a wine-producing business. In oenology, they have a thorough understanding, in both theory and practice, of the various winemaking techniques, sensory analysis, wine microbiology and oenological analysis. They have the knowledge necessary to set up and manage a winery and a wine business. In management, they know how to create and control a business strategy by integrating aspects of legislation, economics and agricultural policy, as well as competition and marketing. Mastery of these areas and the integration of this knowledge enable HES engineers specialising in oenology to take on responsibilities within the wine industry.

Websites:

http://www.changins.ch/fr/

The Specialised School (ES)

Training at the Specialised School enables students to acquire technical and technical-economic skills in various sectors, including viticulture, oenology and arboriculture, to take on roles such as:

* Head of cultivation (vineyards or orchards),

* Cellar manager,

* Winemaker-cellar master.

The school was founded in 1948. It is the source of the Changins School. To date, it has trained more than 2,000 students, broken down as follows:

Oenology 1,173,

Viticulture 814,

Arboriculture 57.

Continuing education

The ES training modules are available individually as continuing education (the admission requirements are the same as those for the full training programmes).

Qualifications obtained at the end of the training:

ESp Diploma:

* in Viticulture,

* in Oenology,

* in Arboriculture.

Federal Certificate:

* in Viticulture*.

* Cellar Master*.

* Arborist*.

* Federal examinations are held outside the Changins School and are administered by AGORA, Lausanne, the umbrella organisation for agriculture in French-speaking Switzerland.

Websites:

http://www.changins.ch/fr/