European Forum Of Logistics Education

News

A successful BIP “The Evolution in the Wine Supply Chain”

Online phase: 12 January – 15 February 2026
Onsite week: 2–6 March 2026, Chalon-sur-Saône (France)

We are delighted to share the highlights of 2026 BIP (Blended Intensive Programme), a collaborative educational initiative that brought together students and staff from four partner institutions across Europe:

IUT Chalon-sur-Saône – Université de Bourgogne Europe (France)
Breda University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
Pomeranian University in Słupsk (Poland)
UCL University College (Denmark)

In total, 40 students and 10 staff members participated in the programme, working together in seven multicultural teams. Their shared focus: tracing the wine supply chain from vineyard origins to global distribution, combining academic depth with real industry challenges.

About the Programme
BIP 26, titled “The Evolution in the Wine Supply Chain”, was structured around three interconnected online projects followed by an intensive onsite week in France. The programme was designed to develop students’ competencies in international logistics, supply chain management, and cross-cultural collaboration – skills directly relevant to working in global, professional environments.

Online Phase: Three Projects, One Global Vision
The online phase ran from January through mid-February and provided a structured academic foundation through three complementary projects.

Project 1 launched the programme with a global exploration of wine-producing regions. Teams compared grape varieties, analysed traditional and modern winemaking techniques, and examined how climate change is reshaping viticulture worldwide.

Project 2 shifted the focus to international trade and logistics. Each team selected a wine-producing country and conducted a full export-market and supply chain analysis – covering regulations, transport routes, distribution models, and sustainability practices such as glass recovery and recycling.

Project 3 placed creativity and communication at the forefront: students developed a complete brand identity for a new wine label, designing a logo and crafting a commercial script. Their spots were later filmed on location at IUT Chalon-sur-Saône during the onsite week – adding a professional and imaginative dimension to the programme.

Onsite Week in Chalon-sur-Saône: Collaboration, Culture & Challenge
The onsite week (2–6 March) brought all participants together in Chalon-sur-Saône for five packed days of collaboration, industry engagement, and cultural discovery.

Day 1 – Welcome & Cultural Discovery
The week opened with a warm welcome ceremony that set the tone for what was to follow. While students refined their online presentations and professors put the finishing touches on the BIP case study, the day concluded with a memorable visit to the Buxy wine cellar – an authentic and atmospheric introduction to Burgundy’s celebrated wine heritage.

Day 2 – Presentations & Industry Insights
Teams presented their online project work to peers and staff, followed by an engaging guest lecture on global wine logistics that brought real-world industry context into the classroom. The day’s highlight was the unveiling of the week’s central challenge: a case study developed in partnership with Hillebrand Gori, a leading global wine and spirits logistics provider. Student teams were tasked with managing a complete wine export shipment to North America – from vineyard pick-up to final delivery. The assignment required strategic planning across the full logistics chain: transport choices, palletisation, documentation, customer communication, and cost calculation, all in compliance with real export requirements.

Day 4 – Case Study Collaboration & Commercial Spot Filming
Day 4 was a study in contrasts – and in the range of skills that modern logistics professionals need. In the morning, teams worked intensively on their case study solutions, debating transport options and crunching costs. In the afternoon, the campus transformed into a film set as teams shot the commercial spots they had scripted during the online phase. The energy was high, the creativity evident, and the results a fitting reflection of the programme’s blend of analytical rigour and creative thinking.

Days 5 & 6 – Final Presentations, Awards & Dijon Excursion
The closing sessions brought the week to an energetic and celebratory finish. Teams delivered their final case study presentations, showcasing the depth of their analysis and the strength of their cross-border collaboration. The official closing ceremony followed, at which all 40 students were awarded BIP participation certificates. Special awards were presented to the top two case study teams and the best commercial spots – recognising both analytical excellence and creative achievement. The programme concluded on a high note with a cultural excursion to Dijon: a guided tour of the historic city centre and a visit to the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin, rounded off with regional tastings that gave a final, fitting taste of Burgundy’s rich culinary heritage.

Cultural Enrichment Through Real-World Collaboration
Beyond the academic and technical content, BIP 26 offered students a meaningful cultural and interpersonal experience. Working in mixed international teams meant navigating different perspectives, communication styles, and approaches to problem-solving – closely mirroring the realities of modern global workplaces.

Students developed and strengthened a range of competencies throughout the programme:

Cross-cultural teamwork, integrating diverse viewpoints into a unified supply chain strategy.
Real-life professional dynamics, from dividing responsibilities to coordinating deliverables under time pressure.
Authentic industry simulation, working with actual logistics challenges, documentation requirements, and customer expectations.
Enhanced communication skills, balancing English-language discussions with cultural nuances and varied academic backgrounds.
A shared sense of achievement, built through collective decision-making and mutual support.

This combination of cultural and professional immersion transformed the case study from an academic exercise into a genuinely practical experience, preparing students for the collaborative, international environments they will encounter in their careers.

Looking Ahead
BIP 26 has been a valuable and rewarding experience in cross-border collaboration and applied logistics education. It stands out as an exceptional edition that combined academic depth, industry relevance, creative expression, and cultural immersion. Students and staff returned home with new skills, strengthened international connections, and lasting memories – a powerful reflection of the value that European collaboration adds to higher education.

It is hoped that one of the partner institutions will host the next edition of this Blended Intensive Programme, welcoming a new cohort of students to this enriching international experience.