hydroinformatics | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

Erasmus Mundus MSc in EuroAquae-HydroInformatics and Water Management

The Joint Master Course is developped by the EuroAquae consortium coordinated by the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis and associated to 11 leading international universities:Technical University of Catalonia (ES), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (HU), Brandenburg University of Technology at Cottbus (DE), Newcastle University (UK), Universidad Nacional del Littoral (AR), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (CH), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IND), National University of Technology (SIN), University of Incheon (KR).

Scholarship Application Deadline: Before 31st of January 2011
Further Scholarship Information and Application

Erasmus Mundus UNESCO-IHE Masters on Flood Risk Management Scholarships

Erasmus Mundus Grant Committe has selected UNESCO-IHE’s proposal on a new Masters Course on Flood Risk Management for funding under the 2010 Erasmus Mundus Action 1 Call for proposal. The new Masters Course will be offered in collaboration with the Technical University of Dresden (Germany), Technical University of Catalonia (Spain) and University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Integrated flood risk management aims to reduce the human and socio-economic losses caused by flooding while at the same time taking into account the social, economic, and ecological benefits from floods and the use of flood plains or coastal zones. The need for the adoption of a holistic integrated approach to managing flood risks has been reflected in the Flood Directive of the European Parliament. Existing Masters programmes on floods offered at EU cover many technical aspects but lack integration. The programme follows the holistic approach and is explicitly designed to cover a wide range of topics – from drivers and natural processes to models, decisions and socio-economic consequences and institutional environment, and is therefore an important advance in water education for Europe.

The Erasmus Mundus Masters Course on Flood risk management is offered by the consortium consisting of UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (the Netherlands), the Technical University of Dresden (Germany), the Technical University of Catalonia (Spain) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). The associated members include European hydraulics laboratories, namely, DHI (Denmark), Deltares and HR Wallingford (UK), and from key national organisations responsible for flood management, including Rijkswaterstaat (the Netherlands). ICHARM (Japan), and three organisations from Bangladesh are associated members as well. All these partners bring their specific complementary expertise in flood risk management to the EMMC, which graduates educated flood risk professionals with a broad vision of the processes occurring in river basins and in coastal zones at different spatial and temporal scales, and who can master the links between systems, processes and natural and socio-economic constraints for all the aspects of the water cycle.

During the 2-year programme students start at the Technical University of Dresden, where they complete their first semester with 30 ECTS with courses on hydro-meteorological processes, global change and its impact, flood risk management and GIS. Then the students move to UNESCO-IHE for their 2nd semester with 30 ECTS where they receive courses on modelling for planning, forecasting, control and decision support, hazard mapping, ICT, and fluvial flooding and urban flood disasters. Subsequently, the students move to the Technical University of Catalonia to follow part of their 3rd semester with 20 ECTS with courses on hazards due to flash floods, debris flow, coastal flooding, and climate change. The last part of the 3rd semester is hosted by the University of Ljubljana where students follow courses on spatial planning, and socio-economic and institutional framework of flood risk management to earn 10 ECTS. Each semester provides a number of electives, and there are international fieldtrips. Finally, the students carry out their thesis work (30 ECTS) at one of HIEs or with an industrial partner. Successful candidates receive MSc degrees from the Technical University of Dresden, UNESCO-IHE and the Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona.

Partners:

  • UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands (Co-ordinating Institution)
  • Technical University of Dresden, Germany
  • Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
  • University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Duration: 2 years, starting September 2011

Contact:

Dr Biswa Bhattacharya
Hydroinformatics & Knowledge Management
Westvest 7
2601 DA Delft, Nederland
E-mail:  b.bhattacharya@unesco-ihe.org

PhD Position: Knowledge and Capacity Development in the Water Sector, Netherlands

The Department of Hydroinformatics and Knowledge Management (HIKM) has a Core that is engaged in the study and application of Knowledge and Capacity Development (KCD). Current research concerns the modes of knowledge sharing in water resources, the capacity in government and the civil service system, and the access to the global knowledge pool through formal and informal learning processes and networks.

The vacancy is part of a new initiative to study how the effectiveness of KCD can be increased, and to help mainstream research outcomes in policy on international development. This effort is financed by the Netherlands government. For the Department we are looking for a Junior Researcher, Knowledge and Capacity Development in the Water Sector (m/f).

Responsibilities
As part of the KCD team, the (full time) researcher will conduct an academically rigorous study over about 4 years on the relationship between the capacity of the water sector and the sector’s performance in service delivery and water resource management, in about 6 countries, in a transversal analysis. The methodology will be based on the experiences and tools developed by the team and by other research groups. The approach in the study will include the selection of representative case studies, of which the development and performance will be the KCD activities and programs, the collection of quantitative data and information as well as narratives, and the comparative analysis of the KCD development dynamics in relation to KCD initiatives and programs. The study will establish a method to analyze the modes in which KCD affects the capacity and performance of the main organizations of the sub-sector, and how it helps to achieve benchmarks that are to be determined by the study.

The outputs of the study include (i) a set of peer-reviewed publications that are to be of adequate quality to allow the researcher to obtain his/her Doctor degree under Dutch law, and (ii) elaborate guidelines, and building blocks for KCD action plans and policy inputs that are relevant for international development. The researcher will, beside his/her research, prepare policy documents and reports to disseminate the results and recommendations, and will participate in relevant workshops and forums. In addition, he/she will prepare and give classes at post-graduate level for international course participants, and over time take leadership in the development of new educational programs. He/she will be staff member of the Core on KCD and work under the supervision of the Professor/Chair of KCD.

Requirements and Competencies
The candidate will:
* Have an education at MSc level or equivalent in water or water resources sciences or engineering, or in relevant social or economic sciences. Combination of degrees would create a special advantage. He/she should qualify for acceptance into a PhD programme under Dutch academic regulations.
* Have professional experience of at least three years in a related field in a utility, in a consultancy, government agency, or similar organization, and/or in a research environment. Experience with developing countries will be considered especially valuable.
* Be proficient in English, also for writing scientific papers, and, preferable, policy reports.
* Be able to work in a team and contribute to the teamwork.
* Bring a constructive attitude, and enthusiasm for the goal of knowledge management and international development.

Preference exists for candidates from developing countries.
Conditions of employment
This position is for four years, however, after about half a year a satisfactory detailed work proposal needs to be submitted, after which the appointment will be confirmed. The position is based in Delft, The Netherlands. The PhD research fellowship includes a monthly allowance of about €1190, air travel, health insurance, ancillary expenses and tuition. Candidates must be prepared to carry out long- and short-term missions abroad.

Information and application
Additional information can be obtained from Mr. Jan Luijendijk, Head of Department (T: +31(0)15- 21 51 810 / E: j.luijendijk@unesco-ihe.org).

Applications with curriculum vitae can be sent until August 31, 2010 to UNESCO-IHE, attn. Mr. Jan Luijendijk, Head of Department stating the vacancy description.