It is now widely accepted that climate change will lead to an intensification of the global hydrological cycle and will have a major impact on regional water resources. It is also clear that, in many parts of the world, variability in climate conditions, next to many socio-economic and environmental developments, is already having major impacts and that such variability is increasing.

Both present variability and long-term climate change impacts are most severe in the developing world, and particularly affect the poor in these regions.

Learning objectives
  • Understanding the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management in relation to Climate Change
  • Understanding the climate system and the hydrological cycle
  • Being aware of the impact of climate change on society
  • Understanding of dealing with risk and uncertainty
  • Understanding of adaptation in relation to water and climate change
Target group

The course is designed for professionals actively involved in the water and climate sectors. They may be working as policy makers at local, regional or national level, as staff of NGO or the private sector dealing with adaptation, or as junior university lecturers or scientists etc. and who do not have the time or resources to take a course that lasts several weeks abroad.

Course structure

The Water and Climate Change online module is offered in full distance learning mode. Participants complete the course in a period of 10 weeks with a workload of 80 hours.

A participant is expected to spend about 8 hours a week on average through reading, discussion and assignments. The course is sub-divided into 5 subjects and a written assignment. A complementary modelling course with a study load of 40 hours is optional.

Within the course, each subject starts and ends on a specified day. Generally, a subject takes 2 weeks.

Within this period, the participant is free to study in his or her own time. Questions with regard to the subject can be posted on the discussion forum, eliciting responses from fellow participants and teachers.

Course content

Subject

Key questions

Period

1. Introduction

How does water and climate change relate to Integrated water resources management?

Week 1

2. The Climate system and the Hydrological Cycle

What are the impacts of Climate Change on the hydrological cycle?

Week 2 - 3

3. Impacts of Climate Change on Society

How is human society impacted by climate change?

Week 4 - 5

4. Dealing with uncertainty

How to deal with risk and uncertainty?

Week 6 - 7

5. Adaptation

How to adapt to the change in the hydrological cycle?

Week 8 - 9

6. Final paper

 

Week 10

Each subject ends with a tutor assignment for which participants have to use their newly acquired knowledge and interact with the teacher and the other participants using the discussion platform of the online learning environment. The final mark for the course is based on tutor assignments, contribution to discussion assignments and the final paper. After completion, participants will receive a 'certificate of attendance’ jointly issued by all partners.

Partners
  • Universidad del Valle (Colombia)
  • Bogor Agricultural University (Indonesia)
  • ICHARM (Japan)

Course Brochure

Course details


  • E.D. de Ruijter van Steveninck, PhD, MSc

  • 18 weeks

Dates, Fee & Application


  • 02 Sep 2013 to 06 Jan 2014

  • €700

  • 02 August 2013

  • 05 February 2013

  • Click here to apply for this course

More info