MSc in Water Management

It may relate to having too little water while water demands are growing explosively (water scarcity), too much water (flooding), water of poor quality rendering them unfit to sustain the ecosystem or challenges related to providing water for people, industry and agriculture.

What complicates matters further is that these challenges are all interdependent and influence each other. For example, water scarcity can impact water quality and the ability to provide water.

Addressing these challenges requires that water managers apply an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, involving hydrological, biophysical, chemical, economic, institutional, legal, policy-making and planning aspects.

The International Masters Programme in Water Management provides such an integrated and interdisciplinary approach. Besides the technical (physical, chemical and engineering) and non-technical (legal, social, economic, financial, institutional and managerial) aspects, participants study the interplay between these technical and non-technical aspects.

At the same time the programme brings together the scientific study of water resources with practical planning and management skills. Participants are encouraged to study water management from a multi-disciplinary perspective and to seek integrated solutions.

The programme offers four specialisations that focus on the three dimensions of water: Water Quality Management, Water Resources Management Water Conflict Management and Water Services Management.

Twelve months of blended and innovative learning methods, including lectures, laboratory and field work, case studies, group work, role-plays and self-study, are complemented by six months of applied research in the field of water management theory and practice.

Aim of the Programme

The Water Management Masters Programme is intended for professionals and researchers from a wide range of backgrounds. It aims to develop knowledge, insight and skills required to design, implement and evaluate water management policies and strategies. Graduates will be able to promote the wise use of water and achieve effective governance of water resources.

Once they have successfully completed this programme, graduates will be able to:

• Describe the rational for an integrated and interdisciplinary approach for managing the water system;
• Identify and critically assess the different functions of the water resources system and the, often competing, interests of the various water using sectors;
• Design, apply and evaluate models for institutional arrangements with emphasis on institutional reforms, policy development and good governance;
• Be able to conduct, independently or in a multidisciplinary team, research;
• Be able to clearly and systematically communicate, argue and defend findings in oral and written presentations to a variety of audiences.

Participant profile

Those who will benefit most from this programme are young and mid-career professionals, in technical or management positions, with

responsibilities for, or interests in, water and environmental resources, quality issues or provision of water and sanitation.

The Water Management programme is open to participants from a range of academic backgrounds, as long as they have a Bachelors degree in an area that contributes to water management. These areas include engineering, economics, law, social sciences and natural sciences.

Programme Structure

The International Masters Programme in Water Management is an 18 month course, of which the first year will be spent tackling basic and specialised modules, followed by six months in which participants take part in a fieldtrip, pursue a research topic and complete their MSc thesis.

Foundation Phase
The Water Management Programme starts with a number of basic subjects.

• Principles of Integrated Water Resources Management presents the latest insights, context and concepts in integrated water and environmental resources management.
• Water Resources System focuses on understanding the physical systems and the interactions between water quality and quantity, and between atmosphere, surface, soil and groundwater.
• Research and Management Skills develops the participants research and managerial skills and lets them apply these skills in a role-play on the multi-disciplinary aspects of IWRM.

Participants can also choose one of the followings subjects:

• Geo-Information Management
• Project Cycle and Management

Specialisation Phase

Participants in the Water Management Programme can choose one of four specialisations, each of which highlights one critical aspect of water management.

Integration Phase
After completing their specialisation, Water Management participants come together in a multi-disciplinary, problem-solving environment, to integrate their knowledge, insights and skills, and to apply what they have learned.

A two-week international field trip, addressing contemporary water management issues in Europe , is followed by a four-week period of group work aimed at seeking management solutions for a simulated river basin in a development context.

Each participant formulates a strategy, introduces organisational changes, and addresses financial, operational and management challenges. This will require participants to apply the tools studied during their specialisation in a practical management task.

MSc Research
The Water Management programme culminates in an MSc dissertation. This starts with a six-week period to develop an individual research proposal. During the proposal development a number of short courses are offered on special topics covering the latest developments in Water Management, e.g. Water & Climate or Conflict Resolution.

The actual research takes place over a period of about six months. The participants undertake applied research in a field directly pertaining to their professional experience, interest and conditions.

Specialisations within the MSc Programme are: