ESEE I

To develop high quality postgraduate education, training and research capacity in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (SEE) at Univalle in Cali, with a regional focus in terms of participation and co-operation.

In the early 1990's, the Governments of various countries in the Andean region defined national plans revealing a serious commitment to upgrading the urban and rural infrastructure in the water and sanitation sector.

Key factors to achieving sustainable change included setting up training programmes and strengthening the research and technical development capacities. Though several countries in the region offered postgraduate programmes in SEE, these did not generate the much-needed quantity nor quality of graduates at the time.

Due to Colombia's speedy economic advancement and decentralisation of responsibilities since then, the country experienced a rapidly increasing need for postgraduate-level educated sanitary and environmental engineers. The higher degree of professionalisation was to be reflected in an improved research capacity required to analyse and solve local problems and constraints.

In line with the Government of Columbia's National Development Plan 1991-1994, Univalle firmly committed to establishing a new postgraduate programme in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering which, after formal approval by the Ministry of Education, was launched in September 1993.

In response to regional developments, a collaboration between Univalle, Delft University of Technology and IHE Delft was developed as a co-operative effort towards alleviating Latin America's water supply and sanitation problems.The "Cupertino in Education in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering" (ESEE) project established the postgraduate programme leading to an "Especialista" or a Master of Science (MSc) degree, including several activities directly related to and supportive of realising and maintaining a professional programme.

A key component of this programme was the development of a research capacity through the establishment of research infrastructure in Univalle's respective departments as well as amongst staff.

Following the accomplishments of ESEE I, the co-operation was extended for another two years (ESEE II), with the purpose of consolidating the achievements of the first four years of the project. ESEE II focused on the development, revision and upgrading of the curriculum. Key objectives included the review and strengthening of the teaching component of the Especialista and Maestria programmes.

Activities:

An interrelated set of activities, combining postgraduate teaching, applied research and staff training, provided suitable conditions to support the level and future sustainability of the new postgraduate programme.

The ESEE I research programme introduced a research attitude through the implementation of required infrastructure in departments involved, including appropriate research capacities amongst staff. Within the framework of the MSc programme, research was carried out in the fields of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering in general, and Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment in particular.

Related activities included staff development, which took place at the lecturing and research levels thus improving teaching capacity and expanding education-related research.

Aside from staff development and training, project activities included curriculum development at the MSc and Especialista level in ESEE, organisation of short courses targeted at professionals from the SEE sector, and upgrading of Univalle's research facilities.

Outputs:

• Curriculum Development: The Especialista and Maestria programmes in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering were established, with regional recognition and participation; the research topic was selected and implemented; and thereafter followed the strengthening of the research line inAnaerobic Wastewater Treatment and Water Supply.
• Staff Development: included training of Univalle staff at the Master of Science level at IHE, resulting in the output of six Univalle staff members having graduated with Masters degree from IHE; staff training and professionalisation at the Master of Science level at Univalle; development of a regional focal point function; and the arrangement of a series of seminars centred on research and research management.
• Short Courses: Four short regional courses and one international conference in the Sanitary Engineering field were organised, targeted at SEE professionals. Short course topics includedUrban Drainage Systems, Anaerobic Waste Water Treatment, Water Treatment Systems, Non-conventional Water Supply and Sanitation Systems, Low Cost SanitationandCleaner Production.
• Upgraded Research Facilities: Univalle's laboratory equipment and computer facilities were improved in line with the aforementioned activities and objectives, to support the education, training and research components.