From Students to Educators: New Milestone for Two Approved Course Providers
Apr 16, 2026
We’re hugely proud to celebrate two of our Gold/Level 2 Approved Course Providers who have each welcomed a former student into their teaching team.
In Türkiye, Yiğit Akdemir has invited Sertuğ Yıldız to join his Uzkeba EWA Certificate-level delivery team. And for Joe Cabassa in Puerto Rico, two former students are setup to teach EWA Certificate courses for Academia de Whisky: Miguel Santiago and Jorge Márquez.
One of the most rewarding aspects of building a global whisky education community is seeing it come full circle. In two continents, this progression represents the benefit of continuity, mentorship and the long-term impact of whisky education done well.
Two Whisky Education Journeys
Yiğit shared his thoughts on welcoming Sertuğ to the team: “Sertuğ began his journey with the Edinburgh Whisky Academy (EWA) online courses in 2020, and through years of dedication, he has successfully completed numerous Certificates and the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky.”
Yiğit & Sertuğ
“Beyond his academic achievements, Sertuğ brings a wealth of practical expertise to our team. Having conducted professional tastings for several years and visited a vast number of distilleries, he has acquired a first-hand perspective on the production and heritage of the ‘water of life.’” Sertuğ will teach his first Certificate in Scotch Whisky course this summer in Ankara.
Joe’s experience with Miguel and Jorge reflects a similar story. Having both started working through the Certificate-level courses in 2023, they quickly completed the set and went on to achieve the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky within a year. Now a part of the teaching team, Miguel will lead the Certificate in Scotch Whisky (1 & 2 May), while Jorge will teach the Certificate in Irish Whiskey in Puerto Rico this June.
Jorge, Joe & Miguel at the EWA Advanced Diploma 2025
Joe said: “Jorge and Miguel have gone above and beyond in their growth as educators, sharpening their skills and expanding their knowledge. We’re excited and proud to welcome them to the Official Educators Team at Academia De Whisky.”
Miguel and Jorge also attended last year’s Advanced Diploma in Scotland, further strengthening their knowledge and laying the foundations for potentially teaching at Diploma-level in the future. Having spent a week with them, we know they are both great guys and that they will teach with passion and enthusiasm.
A Global Teaching Community
What makes this especially meaningful is what it says about the strength of the learning journey. Students are building confidence, experience and a sense of belonging with every course they complete. This is exactly what the Approved Course Provider programme was designed to support.
Kirsty McKerrow, EWA Founder & Managing Director, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students come full circle and step into teaching roles within our Approved Course Provider network. This is exactly what we hoped to achieve, creating not just learners but future educators who carry forward the same passion and high standard of knowledge. Seeing both Yiğit and Joe invest in their students in this way shows how strong and collaborative our global community has become. I couldn’t be prouder of what it’s evolving into.”
As more students progress through our courses with Approved Course Providers, we hope to see many more stories like these. And good luck to Sertuğ, Miguel and Jorge for their first courses!
