Today, more than ever the availability and management of water resources are the key issues for the socio-economic development and its impact. We need new solutions to managing water resources to offset the rising challenges to water security from population growth and climate change. Especially vulnerable to this point are countries in Southeast of Asia (SEA), which face severe challenges related to environmental dangers, and their situation will worsen due to current climate change predictions. Thus, these countries need competent and knowledgeable water professionals, who can lead the modernisation of water resources management and guarantee their sustainable socio-economic development, a priority in SEA.Currently, existent Master- and PhD programs in the field of water, environment, and natural resources are unequally implemented and they are based on traditional teaching methodologies that form old-school professionals.To this end, InowAsia will transfer to participating EU HEIs the knowledge and experience available about the implementation of innovative master programmes onto water resources management field. The main idea is to jointly design an innovative training programme based on modular and flexible water resources combining the on-line and problem-based methodology to complement some of the existing postgraduate programs, and also to co-design and implement water-oriented living labs in the campus of each PC HEI. As a result, a new generation of Asian leading professionals in the field of water will be incorporated into the water labour market, with a global view of the sector challenges, a strong background in sustainable water management, but with a specific approach to the local demands.This project aims to create an International multilevel network of postgraduate students, professors and water professionals to reinforce postgraduate curricula in critical economic aspects related to water in SEA, including innovative knowledge.
INOWASIA aims to train the new generation of young Southeast Asian water professionals with a strong and multidisciplinary background in sustainable water management, with a global view of the sector current and future challenges but with a specific approach to the local demands, and the required soft skills to join and lead the water sector market.
Adequate water resources are crucial for a nation's progress, not only for achieving SDGs and ensuring populace access to clean water and sanitation but also for improving country's economy (including tourism). This is important in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, with deteriorating water resources and poor projections due to climate change impacts. Southeast Asian universities face challenges in providing water professionals with specific competencies demanded by the water labor market.
<< Background >> Adequate water resources are crucial for a nation's progress, not only for achieving SDGs and ensuring populace access to clean water and sanitation but also for improving country's economy (including tourism). This is important in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, with deteriorating water resources and poor projections due to climate change impacts. Southeast Asian universities face challenges in providing water professionals with specific competencies demanded by the water labor market. << Objectives >> INOWASIA aims to train the new generation of young Southeast Asian water professionals with a strong and multidisciplinary background in sustainable water management, with a global view of the sector current and future challenges but with a specific approach to the local demands, and the required soft skills to join and lead the water sector market. << Implementation >> Intensive virtual and face-to-face training in water resources and student-centred teaching methods. Syllabus for postgraduate courses in the Southeast Asian universities have been revised to include problem-based learning. Co-designed and implementation of water-oriented living labs in each university, where activities, projects, and international internships have been launched, alongside the creation of an international stakeholder network. << Results >> More than 300 teachers, students and professionals trained. 8 postgraduate courses updated with PBL methodology. 9 basic water courses implemented in an open a free e learning platform, translated into 6 languages. 6 water-oriented living labs implemented with more than 20 projects and activities carried out during the project to foster innovation. 12 international internships among Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, and more than 500 international entities joined to our network.