As an APP, MWM Wine School (MWM), is required to identify to WSET and assist in managing or monitoring actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest (‘Conflicts of Interest’) involving both APP staff and students. This policy complements WSET’s conflicts of interest policy and works to safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications and promote confidence in WSET and MWM processes and procedures. This policy applies to all MWM’s staff and students and to any individual acting on behalf of MWM. A Conflict of Interest exists where an individual has interests or loyalties that could adversely influence their judgement, objectivity or loyalty to WSET or MWM when conducting activities associated with WSET qualifications. Examples of Conflicts of Interest include:
The investigation of a non-compliance incident by someone who is unable to act impartially. Some of these Conflicts of Interest are manageable and therefore acceptable. For example, if family member of one of MWM’s educators or APP staff takes a qualification and exam through MWM, or when an employee of MWM, or of the WSET, takes a WSET qualification through MWM, we can notify WSET in advance and work with them to put in place measures to maintain the integrity of the exam. Some Conflicts of Interest are not manageable and are not acceptable. For example, no mitigation efforts overcome the conflict created when an individual when a single individual serves as the educator and exam officer of an exam for a family member where an external invigilator is not available. Any staff member or student of MWM who becomes aware of a Conflict of Interest must inform Customer Serive of MWM by email: school@mwminternational.com as soon as possible. MWM will inform the WSET of the possible conflict of interest and will work with WSET to put any protective or mitigating measures in place to manage the conflict on a case-by-case basis. If WSET and MWM determine the conflict is not manageable, MWM’s Customer Service will inform any impacted APP staff or students. Please note that the failure to declare a conflict of interest may have consequences for the student or MWM because we are required to report conflicts to WSET.
Both WSET and MWM want to make WSET assessments accessible for all students, so none are at an advantage or disadvantage based on a disability or differing ability. This policy and the reasonable adjustment process allows us MWM to work with you, our student, before an assessment to gather the information we need to submit a request to WSET and work with them to make arrangements that give students access to WSET qualifications. A reasonable adjustment is any accommodation or arrangement that helps to reduce the effect of a known disability or difficulty that substantially disadvantages a student’s assessment. Using a reasonable adjustment does not impact how WSET grades your exam, or your result, but WSET cannot agree to reasonable adjustments where your particular difficulty directly affects performance necessary to complete the assessment outcomes (e.g. inability to smell or taste for a Level 3 Exam). The goal of a reasonable adjustment is to give you equal access to a WSET qualification, not to give unfair advantages over other students who take an assessment without the same adjustment, or to affect the overall reliability of the assessment outcomes that are explained in the course Specification. Examples of reasonable adjustments may be:
MWM will gather the information we need from you to submit a Reasonable Adjustment Application form to WSET. WSET must approve and arrange reasonable adjustments before the assessment activity takes place. Before completing enrolment with MWM, we will give all students access to this policy and the chance to identify any special needs that could require a reasonable adjustment. If a student identifies a special need, MWM will give the student the Reasonable Adjustment Application form as soon as possible and work with the student to gather the necessary information. For any student seeking a reasonable adjustment, please contact Customer Service of MWM by email (school@mwminternational.com) with:
You must submit this information at least 1 month before the exam date for Levels 1-3 qualifications. The information you submit will be shared with WSET and will be handled under WSET’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy. MWM will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.
Special consideration is any adjustment given to a student who has temporarily experienced an illness or injury, or other event outside of their control at the time of the exam that significantly affects their ability to take the exam or their ability to show their knowledge and understanding in the assessment. Special consideration is only for things that happen immediately before or during an exam that have a material impact on your, the student’s, ability to take the exam or on your performance. To be eligible for special consideration, you must have completed the whole course and would have been fully prepared if not for the temporary illness, injury or other uncontrollable event. A special consideration may be for an individual (e.g. a student becomes ill the day of the exam) or a group of students (e.g. an exam is interrupted by a natural disaster). You may be eligible for special consideration if:
Applying for special consideration
If you have taken an exam, or your exam is immediately approaching, and you feel that you have a temporary injury or illness, or other uncontrollable event that has interfered with your ability to complete your exam, please contact Customer Service of MWM as soon as possible. MWM will provide you with a Special Consideration Application Form, which must be completed and returned with supporting documentation within 2 days after the effected exam. The information you submit will be shared with WSET and will be handled under WSET’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy. If there has been serious disruption during an exam affecting a group of students, MWM will submit a detailed report of the circumstances and candidates affected to WSET to request a special consideration. MWM will keep records of all applications for special consideration.
Both MWM and WSET have policies and procedures in place to protect WSET students and safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications. MWM ensures compliance with MWM and WSET’s policies through this Malpractice and Maladministration Policy, which gives a framework for both us and you to identify, report and manage potential malpractice or maladministration. Non-compliance with MWM or WSET Policies and Procedures can fall into two distinct, but related, categories:
Context is important and the line between maladministration or malpractice is not always clear: for example, maladministration incidents may become malpractice (e.g. if you fail to implement corrective measures, repeat the same or similar incident, or attempt to misrepresent or hide information during an investigation); or there may be mitigating factors that turn potential malpractice into maladministration. Though malpractice and maladministration are distinct concepts, they can shade into one another. Malpractice and maladministration are always case, context and fact specific. Both APPs and students can commit malpractice and maladministration.
There are many ways that malpractice or maladministration could occur, including new ways we have not seen yet. But some examples of malpractice or maladministration include:
For APPs:
For students:
In general, we also expect that both MWM staff and our students should treat others and be treated professionally and respectfully at all times. We will treat inappropriate behaviour including verbal or physical abuse, persistent or unrealistic demands, or threats that cause stress to staff as misconduct and may report student misconduct to WSET as necessary.
– Reporting and Investigation of Malpractice or Maladministration
As an APP, we aim to ensure compliance with WSET Policies and MWM policies and will keep records of potential or actual malpractice or maladministration by you, our students, or our staff.
We are required to notify WSET immediately of any non-compliance issues that could be malpractice or maladministration, so that WSET can investigate the non-compliance under their own Malpractice and Maladministration Policy.
We ask that you also raise any concerns or non-compliance issues that may be malpractice or maladministration with MWM as soon as possible by following the process outlined in our Complaints policy.
During WSET’s investigation, they may reach out to MWM or to you directly to request further information or conduct an interview. Please respond to any requests promptly and honestly.
– Managing Non-Compliance
If WSET identifies malpractice or maladministration, they will consider its impact and may apply sanctions. WSET will take all reasonable steps to ensure the sanctions do not disadvantage uninvolved students affected by malpractice or maladministration. However, in some cases, they may need to disallow or withhold results and/or certificates.
WSET will consider all relevant information on a case-by-case basis, balancing the facts with potential or actual effects, and against the seriousness of the sanctions against those effects. WSET records all malpractice and maladministration incidents for both APPs and students. If WSET determines that a student has committed malpractice or maladministration, they may apply one or any of the following sanctions:
– Appeals
If you wish to appeal penalties or sanctions WSET has imposed due to Malpractice or Maladministration, please follow the procedures laid out in WSET’s Complaints Policy.