Sana'a University Support Project

The Sana'a University Support Project (SUS) aims at capacity building for the water sector of the Republic of Yemen, through the establishment of postgraduate education and research in Water and Environmental Engineering.The main objectives of the SUS project are to:

• Finalise the capacity building process i.e. the phase of training of junior staff abroad;
• Support the implementation of the Diploma-MSc programme;
• Support the establishment of a Water and Environmental Training and Research Centre; and
• Ensure a smooth transfer of educational and research tasks to the newly trained staff with PhD qualifications.

The SUS project originated in the late 1980s in response to increasing awareness in the approaching disastrous water scarcity situation in Yemen - compounded by the lack of human resources, public awareness, rapid population growth and a high demand for drinking water, industrial use and irrigation. SUS covers a 12-year period consisting of 3 phases:

Phase I (1989-1992): organisation of professional postgraduate training courses in Hydrology, Water Resources Management and Sanitary Engineering, for engineers from various water sector institutions; and University support via a revision of the BSc curriculum of the Faculty of Engineering, Civil Engineering Department (FOE-CED), towards a more water-oriented programme.

Phase II (1992-1997): direct support of the FOE/CED in building up its training and research capacities in the fields of Water and Environmental Engineering.

Phase III (1998-2003): continuous support of ongoing project activities and strengthening the establishment of a new training, research and advisory unit i.e. Water and Environmental Training and Research Centre (WETRC).

Curriculum restructuring and implementation at under and postgraduate levels-

• Syllabi and lecture materials updated for the BSc
• Lecturing on specialised water subjects at BSc and MSc levels in Water and Environmental Programme
• Development and execution of MSc courses and thesis work in water related topics.

Capacity building for the water programme at CED in Sana'a University

• Training of junior staff at PhD level
• In-house training on the development of applied research programmes
• Strengthening of the water educational programme of CED
• Strengthening the applied research capacity at CED

Establishing the Water and Environmental Training and Research Centre within the CED Three major research lines were adopted: Integrated Water Management of WADI Systems; Groundwater Management; and Water Related Environmental Management.

Staff Development

• 5 fellowships for the PhD programme
• 3 fellowships for the MSc programme
• 6 fellowships for the training of trainers course

Upgrading of library, laboratory and computer network facilities

• Purchase of educational and office equipment (i.e. computers, printers, photocopiers and fax machines).
• Purchase of library software and textbooks
• Acquisition of research oriented literature

Outputs:

PHASE I

Professional Training

• 48 professionals trained in three 4-month postgraduate courses in Hydrological Engineering
• 22 professionals trained in one 6-month postgraduate advanced course in Hydrology and Water Resources
• 36 participants trained in two 3-month postgraduate courses in Sanitary Engineering

University Support

• Development of a new curriculum for the CED's BSc programme, with more of an emphasis on water oriented subjects.
• 2 FOE staff members trained up to MSc level at IHE Delft.
• Educational and lecturing materials and books provided for the CED library
• New computer network installed at CED
• Assistance provided in computer applications and laboratory programmes

PHASE II

Training of junior DWEE staff

Five junior CED-DWEE staff undertook a PhD study at IHE Delft, addressing the water and environmental problems in Yemen.

Monitoring and consolidating renewed CED's BSc programme (implemented in 1992-1993)

• BSc curriculum is now fully conducted by Yemeni and foreign university staff employed by the DWEE
• 15 fifth-year BSc participants specialised in water and environmental engineering in 1992-1993, which increased to 40 BSc participants in 1995-1995

Execution of the Diploma-MSc programme

• 1994: first 2-year Diploma-MSc programme initiated
• 1996: second Diploma-MSc programme commenced

Implementation of applied research programme by FOE Yemeni staff

Comprehensive framework for applied research, on relevant topics in the field of water and environmental engineering, included joint research programmes with ministries, government institutions, industries and donor sponsored projects.

PHASE III

• Finalisation of the PhD training of junior staff
• Increasing support to the establishment of training, research and advisory unit by setting up the WETRC