UNESCO Information Meeting on Water Education
On 22 June 2009, UNESCO-IHE presented its contributions to water education to UNESCO Member States Delegates. The briefing was held during an Information Meeting on Water Education at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
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Mr Marcio Barbosa, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, opened the meeting by expressing his concerns for water issues around the globe. He addressed the delegates by stating the need of water education and highlighted UNESCO's cross-sectoral efforts over decades.
Barbosa gave a comprehensive overview of the four pillars of UNESCO's freshwater actions working together to deliver water education challenges: WWAP, UNESCO-IHP, UNESCO-IHE and UNESCO water-related centres and chairs. He stressed the importance of UNESCO-IHE as the largest postgraduate water education facility in the world and the only institution in the UN system authorised to confer accredited degrees. He asked permanent delegates to fully support UNESCO-IHE.
Cross-sectoral efforts
András Szöllösi-Nagy, Director of the Division of Water and Secretary of the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO, went into further detail explaining the various cross-sectoral efforts UNESCO is making in the fields of water education and noted the critical need for adequately trained professionals in the water sector. In this context, he urged Member States to further strengthen their commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
Aline Bory-Adams, Chief of the Coordination Team for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), further highlighted how UNESCO is contributing to strengthen human capacities to address water issues, noting the crucial role of education for the sustainable management of water resources. In particular, she showed how IHP, UNESCO-IHE, UNESCO-UNEVOC, UNITWIN and UNESCO Chairs and the Associated Schools Network of UNESCO (ASPnet), among others, are collaborating on water education in the context of the DESD.
Strengthening the capacities of human resources working on water issues is a tangible way to address critical water issues in the developing world.
Richard Meganck, Rector UNESCO-IHE
Strengthening capacities
During the meeting UNESCO launched the UNESCO Tertiary Water Education Grants Programme, a scheme whereby UNESCO Member States can support students in MSc, PhD, Short- and Online Courses on water issues at UNESCO-IHE. “Strengthening the capacities of human resources working on water issues is a tangible way to address critical water issues in the developing world,” Richard Meganck, UNESCO-IHE's Rector said.
Student presentation
Carmen Almeyda (29) from Peru, Jonas Heita (27) from Namibia and Mohanasundar Radhakrishnan (28) from India represented their fellow students at the Information Meeting in Paris by giving a joint presentation on the water challenges in their respective countries and how studying at UNESCO-IHE allows them to tackle these challenges.
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“UNESCO-IHE managed to integrate scientific and technical disciplines thereby closing the gap between environmental scientists and civil engineers who in the past worked in isolation,” Heita told the audience.
Radhakrishnan explained: “At UNESCO-IHE we learn from each other and think globally but act locally. I am able to identify issues and know where to look for solutions. My approach has become more holistic.”
Hopes and dreams
The students also shared their hopes, dreams and future career plans. “I dream of a time where all people have access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. Now I have finished my studies at UNESCO-IHE I will soon return to India to continue work in the water supply sector with more confidence and the determination to attain better water supply conditions,” said Radhakrishnan.
Almeyda says she is looking forward to go back to Peru where she can collaborate in the ‘Water For All’ programme sponsored by the Peruvian government to improve the situation of water supply, wastewater disposal and treatment in order to achieve the MDGs.
Finally Heita thanked the delegates for their continued support and stressed that the overwhelming challenges we face can only be overcome if human resources are advancing at the same intervals.