Integrated Water Resources Management with focus on the South East Asian Region (IWRM SEA)

Adequate availability of clean water is indispensable for food supply and health and hence key for the development of societies worldwide. However, pressure on water resources is increasing due to fast demographic and socioeconomic growth and unsustainable water uses. The concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) combined with current climate change adaptation best practices offers solutions to deal with these challenges by assessing and managing this precious resource in space and time considering other related sectors. Worldwide, there is a high and growing demand for experts adequately trained on the concepts of IWRM. Next to technical and managerial knowledge, they should also be familiar with the practices of projects between Europe and Vietnam and well trained in intercultural communication, language, culture and
politics.

The objective of the program is to capacitate such experts in the field of IWRM and related concepts and methods within the context of European-Vietnamese cooperation. The program targets graduated professionals with working experience in public or private institutions, authorities and enterprises of the water sector. The applicants should be active in or dealing with water or natural resources management and have an interest in learning and working in an intercultural and multidisciplinary environment.

The profile of the Master program “Integrated Water Resources Management - South East Asia” (IWRM SEA) is practice oriented. The aim is, besides providing the participants with an overview on the water sector in general, to educate experts in the field of Integrated Water Resources Management. This requires a diversification of their knowledge and leads to the capability of cross-linked thinking. The answer to complex environmental and water related problems requires economic and managerial competencies more than classical technical knowledge. The program addresses bachelor´s degree holders which wish to acquire management and leadership skills and develop appropriate solutions considering the linkages of water with economic, social and ecological aspects. The consolidation of different disciplines has not only a methodological dimension but a cultural and a human one, because interdisciplinary team work requires knowledge sharing and effective communication.

Contents

The program consists of basic modules, like “Water Science”, “Principles of IWRM”, “Water Economics”, ”Water Governance” and “Project and Business Management” with the aim of providing an overview on water resources management, economics, project management and the regional and institutional context. In addition, the participants select 10 specialized electives related to topics of water resources management and technology tools emphasizing the particular situation. The first and second semester will be conducted in Hanoi at the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources while in the third semester the student will study at TH Köln, Germany.

The fourth semester will focus on the preparation of the master thesis. Internships and research stays if possible together with a local institution or company guarantee the practical orientation of the master research. Tutors pay particular attention that the knowledge acquired in the first three semesters is applied in the individual projects.

Tuition

Tuition fees in Vietnam, basic course fees for field trips, conference participation and course material.

Funding

Applicants may receive one of the limited numbers of scholarships. Available are full time scholarships from the DAAD “Sur-Place” Program for Vietnamese and foreign applicants.