“With our institutions having worked together for such a long time, this cooperation agreement simply represents the next logical step,” said Geisenheim University President Professor Hans Reiner Schultz at the signing ceremony. “I’m delighted that we are now taking this step together.”

Martin Gehlert, principal of the BSR, added: “Our institutions have a lot of areas that overlap. The BSR is the only school to offer vocational training as a winemaker in Hesse, and it's the only one to offer vocational training as a specialist in fruit juice technology in any German-speaking country. These professions are – for example – well aligned with the Beverage Technology degree program at Hochschule Geisenheim University. It makes sense to pool the expertise of our organizations, and not just because of our physical proximity.”

The cooperation agreement will allow interested BSR pupils to sit in on lectures at Hochschule Geisenheim University in the future. In addition to the Beverage Technology degree program, Geisenheim also offers courses in Food Safety and Food Chain Management. In addition, laboratories and technical facilities will be made available for pupils and students from both organizations to use. This will help ensure everyone has access to the best possible equipment while also cutting costs. The university and the BSR also hope to share staff as needed to promote a mutual exchange of knowledge.

The combination of technical vocational training at the BSR and the science-based teaching at Hochschule Geisenheim University creates a comprehensive educational platform that will equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Both institutions also profit from close regional networking and an exchange of knowledge with players in the industry and the academic community.

With the signing of the cooperation agreement, plans for a joint competence center are now gaining momentum and will see further development in the coming months.