I-WEB
Research Projects
I-WEB
Integrating water cycle management: building capability, capacity and impact in education and business
Program at a glance
Funding Agencies | European Commission (TEMPUS IV) |
Program Period | 2012-2015 |
Project Acronym | I-WEB |
Project Code | 530718-TEMPUS-1-2012-1-UK-TEMPUS-JPCR |
Project Title | Integrating Water Cycle Management: Building Capability, Capacity and Impact in Education and Business |
Project Coordinating Beneficiary | Prof. Lian Lundy, Middlesex University, United Kingdom |
Associated Beneficiaries | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) Ahmed Yasawi International Kazak-Turkish University, Kazakhstan (IKTU) Kokshetau State University named after Shokan Ualikhanov, Kazakhstan (KokSU) Universität Leipzig, Germany (ULZ) Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain (UPV) Nireas – International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Cyprus, Cyprus Institute of Geography of RK, Kazakhstan The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, Kazakhstan Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Water Economy, Kazakhstan Kazakh Research Institute of Fishery, Kazakhstan Institute of Professional Development and Retraining, Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science Control Committee, Kazakhstan National Accreditation Centre; Ministry Education & Science, Kazakhstan CORPORATE FUND “FUND “ZHAS OTAN” IN AKMOLA REGION, Kazakhstan |
Nireas Principal Investigator | Prof. Despo Fatta Kassinos |
Total Budget | 928.266,02 € |
Budget for CEE / Nireas-IWRC | 77,951 € |
Overview
I-WEB aimed at supporting KAZNU, IKTU and KokSU to work collaboratively with business, professional body and regulatory organisations at a national and international level to develop and deliver Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Masters and PhD programmes. The main features of I-WEB were the establishment of an International Advisory Board (IAB) consisting of KZ and EU academic partners and representatives of professional scientific and national curricula bodies. Representatives from other sectors were invited to join the IAB as I-WEB progresses, with its role being the scoping of programme content and delivery mechanisms to be met multi-sectorial needs. Key I-WEB activities included a critical evaluation of the current status of training in IWCM, educational practice, CPD and QA procedures, intensive retraining of KZ staff in IWCM and curricula reform and the development of Bologna compliant MSc and PhD educational frameworks. Internal and external project and programme QA procedures were developed and IWCM laboratories were established. Selected aspects of modules were piloted (free events for students and practitioners) and, CPD courses were developed. I-WEB activities were the development and launch of a communication plan and the establishment of the I-WEB website. Sustainability of I-WEB was demonstrated by adoption of the IAB, institutionalisation of the QA procedures, validation and on-going running of the programmes, the publication of two IWCM textbooks and hosting of an international meeting.
Objectives
To strengthen the partnerships between business, regulatory and academic sectors at a national and international level through their collaborative development and delivery of integrated surface and groundwater management Masters and PhD programmes. A key innovation was the nurturing of trustful relations between sectors through the co-identification of current and emerging graduate skill needs, the sharing of international best practice and the inclusion of business/regulatory expertise within teaching. Identified needs were met through the development and modernisation of new and existing post-graduate programmes in line with Bologna objectives, with a clear focus on ensuring graduates develop skills required to support the sustainable use of surface and ground waters. Opportunities to broaden participation were exploited through the development of strategies and mechanisms to deliver Continued Professional Development (CPD) courses.