WSU wine science department establishes new partnership with Moldovan university

Sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, the small eastern European country of Moldova enjoys a thriving winemaking industry with significant economic, cultural, and historic importance.

Washington State University's Department of Viticulture and Enology (V&E) has agreed to share its programming expertise with the Technical University of Moldova (TUM), which recently absorbed the country's state agricultural college and its viticulture program. The academic collaboration will promote a rich exchange of ideas between the two universities as TUM works to seamlessly integrate its viticulture and enology offerings post-acquisition.

"The purpose of our partnership is to develop a globally facing effort that promotes opportunities for student learning and faculty growth and development," said WSU V&E Department Chair Jean Dodson Peterson.

Dodson Peterson, WSU Associate Professor Tom Collins, and V&E Program Manager Kaury Balcom recently traveled to Moldova to meet TUM students and faculty for the first time. Faculty from North Carolina State University, which has an existing partnership with TUM, also participated in the weeklong gathering.

"It was time well spent," Collins said. "I enjoyed the interactions with our colleagues and the students."

The trip was funded by a U.S. Agency for International Development grant, which TUM is using to establish a speaker exchange program and gather feedback on ways it can improve its academic and Extension programming. The meeting provided the universities an opportunity to discuss TUM's degree structure and course content as well as the potential for joint academic classes and faculty and student exchanges.

"This first trip helped us get a better understanding of the university's facilities and capabilities as well as the challenges they're facing," Dodson Peterson said. "It gave us a good baseline to begin making more formal recommendations. We hope to continue building a trusting relationship as we offer guidance around a cohesive V&E curricular structure."

The visitors toured TUM's laboratories, teaching spaces, and winemaking facilities. At the university's campus in the town of Rîşcani, Collins shared WSU's research on grape smoke exposure and how toasted oak barrels can impact the aroma and flavor chemistry of wine. The audience included TUM faculty members and a mix of students in winemaking, agriculture, and other programs.

"Grape smoke exposure seemed to be a relatively new topic for them," Collins said. "Smoke isn't as much of an issue in most of Europe, so it likely hasn't received the same attention there."

Balcom also presented on the history and growth of the Washington wine industry and its impact on WSU's V&E program. At TUM's campus in the town of Mirceşti, Dodson Peterson shared strategies for building an academic unit and the importance of a holistic approach when it comes to higher education learning.

"It's incredibly rewarding to apply the curriculum development we've been refining at WSU over the past two years to support those just embarking on this journey," Dodson Peterson said. "Our team's unique expertise and perspectives have sparked significant interest among TUM faculty, particularly in how they can navigate shared challenges and adapt solutions to their context."

Dodson Peterson envisions promising opportunities for Moldovan students to study at WSU and for WSU students to experience Moldova firsthand, gaining insights into the country's distinctive viticulture practices.

"Many Moldovan students expressed genuine enthusiasm about pursuing internships and graduate studies at WSU," Dodson Peterson noted. "Equally important is providing our WSU students with a global perspective, deepening their understanding of how and why the wine industry operates differently around the world. This partnership has created a strong foundation for meaningful student exchanges that will enrich both sides."