Programme: ERASMUS-EDU-2022-CBHE-STRAND-2
Key Action: (CBHE) Cooperation in the field of higher education
Type of Key Action: ERASMUS-LS (ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants)
Project Number: ERASMUS-EDU-2022-CBHE-STRAND-2 ERASMUS LS No. 101082976 (HWCA)
Acronym: HWCA
Type of Grant Agreement: ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant
Priority: 1-A Green Deal for Europe
Domain: D-1-1 Climate Change
Policy Area: P-1-4 Combating Climate Change
Project Title: Strengthening Higher Education in the Water Sector to Ensure Climate Resilience and Security in Central Asia – HWCA
Project Duration: 01.05.2023 – 01.05.2026
General objectives
The overall objective of the project is to support the relevance, quality, modernization and responsiveness of MA/MSc curricula on water governance and water diplomacy offered by HEIs of Central Asian countries.
The project will help partner universities to establish conditions for the training of a new generation of managers and decision-makers for the water sector of Central Asia, including water diplomats, who can help resolve problems accumulated in the last three decades and effectively address new challenges, in particular climate change and water stress, through fostering cross-disciplinary, cross-sector and crosscountry dialogues. The project will build capacities needed to promote and implement integrated water resources management, as well as adaptive water governance, strengthen regional cooperation and achieve more effective mobilization and utilization of private investment and international assistance. Experts participating in the project will update and introduce innovative elements in existing curricula or create new innovative curricula for MA/MSc programmes, inspired by European best practices and adapted to regional conditions and requirements. The project will allow Central Asian universities to develop high quality programs to train a new generation of managers and decision makers for the water sector with the support of EU partner universities, local and international organizations and stakeholders.
Specific objectives
The updating of existing or the development of new curricula for Central Asian universities to facilitate the training of a new generation of water governance experts and water diplomats, with support by DA MFA KR, Corvinus University Budapest (CUB) as Associated Partner, in cooperation with IHE Delft (IHEDELFT), the University of Bergamo (UB), Kazakh-German University (DKU) and the University of Reims (URCA), would offer significant benefits in water management.
The revised or new teaching materials would present the problems and interests of every country in a balanced way and describe in a convincing manner the advantages of innovative green approaches and regional cooperation on water.
An inclusive and open discussion of key strategic problems of the region by students of partner universities would help strengthen a culture of open democratic scholarly debate and civil society participation.
Developing agreed, harmonized curricula for the universities of all five countries would facilitate student mobility among Central Asian universities and their EU partner institutions.
Thanks to the integration of research and discussions on issues of regional water resources management in the MA/MSc programmes and the regional programme for continuous professional development and research, Central Asian universities and their European partners would develop a broad network for research and scientific innovation.
The new courses would increase the employability and open up attractive career opportunities for the graduates, who could combine work in the water sector with appointments in other public sectors such as in the ministries of foreign affairs, economy or the environment, in the private sector, regional organizations and institutions, postings abroad, work at specialized agencies of the UN or other international organizations and development partners. The water sector would be able to attract the brightest and most motivated young people again.
Consortium
EU – Universities from Programme Countries:
- Corvinus University, Hungary – Associated Partner
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Netherlands
- University of Bergamo, Italy
- University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France
Universities from Partner Countries:
Kyrgyzstan
- K. Dikhamabayev Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic – Coordinator
- K.I. Skryabin Kyrgyz National Agrarian University
Kazakhstan
- Kazakh-German University
- Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University
- M.Kh. Dulati Taraz Regional University
Tajikistan
- Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan
- Sh. Shohtemur Tajik Agrarian University
Turkmenistan
- Turkmen Agricultural Institute
- Turkmen State University
Uzbekistan
- University of World Economy and Diplomacy
- Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers