WSCC 2017

Technische Hochschule Köln – abbreviated as TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences – sees itself as University of Technology, Arts, Sciences. With its disciplinary and cultural diversity and openness, TH Köln’s activities are aimed on cultural and technological breakthroughs of high societal relevance; TH Köln contributes substantially to resolving social challenges. It is one of the pioneers in the field of development and formation of concepts for higher education didactics.

Our subject range includes the fields of Applied Natural Sciences; Architecture and Construction; Information and Communication; Computer Science; Engineering; Culture; Society and Social Sciences as well as Business Studies. More than 90 degree programs are offered as full-time programs or in some cases as career-integrated or part time programs. As a place where research based learning and academic education take place, the university nurtures prospective scholars through cooperative dissertations. Annually, about 6,000 students take up their studies at TH Köln. Overall 25,000 students from about 120 different countries along with 420 professors and 1,200 staff employ their potential.

Research mainly focuses on future-related issues, including climate change, energy supply, health and food safety as well as demographic changes. While developing solution strategies for the most important questions of our time, researchers offer their professional expertise in interdisciplinary interaction. At the same time, they closely collaborate with local, national and international cooperation partners, including 290 international institutions of higher education. The university offers its researchers an attractive sphere of activity. The quality seal “HR Excellence in Research” awarded by the European Commission certifies that TH Köln meets international standards in the field of human resources development.

TH Köln also puts emphasis on quality in advanced academic training and promotes competencies as well as personal and professional development through a variety of programs.

The ITT is an applied research and teaching institute with a problem oriented and stakeholder centered research strategy. It aims to enable people from a variety of technical and cultural backgrounds to better solve the problems arising from complex environmental issues. Experts who can analyze the complex human-environmental system we live in and develop suitable solutions to sustainably preserve our supplies of food, water and energy. The ITT cooperates with key regional, national and international organizations within the fields of resources management, development co-operation and higher education in addition to providing teaching, innovative research and capacity development worldwide.

The ITT offers various master programs related to natural resources management with special reference to tropical and subtropical regions. Some of the master programs are offered together with partners abroad providing students the chance to study in different settings, gaining insights into other cultural, environmental and social realities. Studying at the ITT does not only mean achieving a master’s degree, but going beyond one’s professional and personal boarders. Through manifold trainings and modern methods of teaching and learning, we realize the concept of lifelong learning and put the student in the center of our education efforts.

In its research structure, the ITT integrates different disciplines and methods in adequate platforms for the analysis and development of natural resources management solutions. Its research follows a holistic approach, which jointly considers biophysical, environmental, economic and social issues.

The ITT research program responds to international public debates on important real-life themes like: The Water, Food and Energy Nexus and the Rio + 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the International Decade for Action: Water for Life, or the Millennium Development Goals, to just mention a few.

CNRD is a worldwide university network promoting academic exchange and cooperation in the area of natural resources management, in particular related to water, land, ecosystem and renewable energy resources in the context of the UN Sustainable Goals (SDGs). In teaching and research, CNRD pursues transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to natural resource management which is necessary for understanding and solving the most pressing problems of today.

CNRD aspires to create a worldwide network of postgraduate courses related to natural resources management and development with an interdisciplinary and intercultural orientation. To achieve this objective there are a variety of initiatives, starting with CNRD semester scholarships for Master’s students. The teaching capacities of the members of CNRD are strengthened through individual and didactic staff support and curriculum development workshops. The other CNRD activities in Education include joint development of teaching material and e-learning modules on the four main CNRD topics is supported by CNRD and lecturer exchange between all universities involved.

The CNRD network fosters interdisciplinary research addressing the challenges related to the SDGs. The CNRD-exceed partners engage in consortia to develop competitive research proposals. These proposals target most interesting national and international calls and aim at strengthening the research capacities as well as widening the research portfolio at the partner universities.

Along with education and research, the third pillar of activities within CNRD exceed is capacity development (CD). In addition to generating knowledge by conducting problem-oriented (applied) research, the key role of the universities is to enhance individual capacities, e.g., in post-graduate education. There is a global network of experts providing sound, science-based governance advice and transferring scientific knowledge into applicable management strategies, as well as, contributing to close the gap between academic education and the constantly changing demands experts and decision-makers face in their day-to-day business.

The primary goal of the Braunschweig Competence Centre and its international cooperation partners is to promote capacity building, knowledge transfer, and to develop core proposals for sustainable water management. The latter includes technologies for manifold use and reuse of water. For instance two thirds of fresh water worldwide is currently used in agriculture that literally drains away into the ground. Here, treated wastewater could be recycled and reused for further application, e.g. in agriculture. The water utilized in the industrial sector could also be recycled and reused.
Overall research fields include Sanitary Engineering, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Water Quality, Waste Management, and Water Governance.

The global project network of exceed-Swindon consists of 29 full member institutions in 15 countries on 4 continents. Each of these institutions is represented by a renowned scientist who has his research focus on water problems. The network considers cooperation, education, and knowledge transfer within the water research and management area to be an indispensable condition for solving present and, in particular, further water-related problems. The mission, first of all, is to inspire and promote exceed-Swindon members in being an international community of academic and practice-oriented professionals, graduated students concerned with water, and a global source of knowledge.

The Food Security Center (FSC) at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, is part of the DAAD program EXCEED – Higher Education in Development Cooperation. Food Security is one of the strengths of the University of Hohenheim since its foundation in 1818.

The FSC’s mission is to provide innovative and effective scientific findings to reduce hunger and achieve food security, contributing towards the major goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs),in particular to zero hunger (SDG 2) and no poverty (SDG 1).

FSC promotes and ensures an excellent education and training of young international scientists.

Within its international networks in the field of food security, FSC utilizes a multi- and transdisciplinary approach through teaching, conducting research, and providing policy advice in coopera­tion with national and international development organizations and partner institutions.

FSC is partner of the BMZ special initiative „ONE WORLD – No Hunger“. The center provides accompanying research for this program.

 

The program “Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation” (Exceed) is composed of five higher education institutions in Germany (Technical University Braunschweig, University of Hohenheim, University of Kassel, Cologne University of Applied Sciences and Ludwig-Maximilians-University München) and their partners in developing countries. Exceed was established by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in 2009 and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since its inauguration.

The main objectives of the program are:

1. Bringing together research and training at higher education institutions in Germany and developing countries with a direct link to the post-2015 development agenda.
2. Deepening and expanding education and research on issues of relevance on the topic of development cooperation.
3. Establishing competence centers for development cooperation at higher education institutions that can serve as “beacons of excellence” by conducting research that are internationally attractive and competitive.
4. Strengthening North-South as well as South-South cooperation in higher education and research.
5. Expanding policy analysis and consultancy on issues of development cooperation in developing countries and Germany.

Each of the five Exceed centers concentrate on different topics relevant for the post-2015 development agenda. The centers in cooperation with their partners in developing countries have established Masters and Doctoral degrees, initiated joint research projects, exchanged researchers, published papers and carried out international conferences – thereby contributing to the post-2015 development agenda. Since the 2nd funding phase, the individual centers have started joint activities to further enhance the contribution of Exceed to development cooperation.

By clicking the respective link, you will find further information on the individual Exceed centers, their projects and their partners:

• Excellence Center for Development Cooperation – Sustainable Water Management, Technische Universität Braunschweig
• The Food Security Center (FSC), University of Hohenheim
• International Center for Development and Decent Work (ICDD), University of Kassel
• Center for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD), TH Köln – University of Applied Science
• CIH^LMU Center for International Health (LMU), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

EXCEED is funded by:

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asian-Pacific region through higher education, research and outreach. Established in Bangkok in 1959, AIT has become a leading regional postgraduate institution and is actively working with public and private sector partners throughout the region and with some of the top universities in the world. Recognized for its multinational, multicultural ethos, the Institute operates as a self-contained international community at its campus located 40km north of downtown Bangkok, Thailand. AIT has three schools, namely, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), and School of Management (SOM). Education, research and outreach activities are carried out through various academic programs in different departments in three Schools. Visit www.ait.asia for more information.

The Water Engineering and Management (WEM) program in the Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering in SET imparts education and training towards an understanding of the complexity of water cycle, utilization, and management. It offers a balanced curriculum covering both engineering and management aspects of water resources to meet today’s major challenges for water engineers and managers include securing water for people and for food production, protecting vital ecosystems, and dealing with climate variability and change and uncertainty of water in space and time. Students acquire knowledge and hands-on practice in tools and techniques to come up with viable and sustainable solution for water, food, energy, and environmental security. Students conduct research on country-specific water related problems, and have opportunities to join research and internship programs with industries and partners.

The first “Water security and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities in Asia” Conference (WSCC2016) was held from 29 November to 01 December 2016 at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) is the geoscientific center of excellence within the federal government and part of its scientific and technical infrastructure. BGR is a federal institute accountable to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). BGR provides neutral and independent advice and information about all geoscientific and natural resource issues. Apart from its work within Germany, BGR has been operating internationally since 1958. The organisation advises the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is currently implementing projects for the management of geo-resources in about 30 partner countries worldwide.

Central elements of the technical cooperation of BGR are the strengthening of good governance, ownership and self-empowerment in developing countries to ensure the sustainable use of geo-resources. This is done by a professional assessment of resource potentials, by creating the conditions for the participation of society in development decisions, as well as by institutional strengthening and capacity building of state governance structures. BGR cooperates with partner institutions in the geoscience sector such as geological surveys, ministries and regional organizations. BGR’s Technical Cooperation helps to satisfy basic human needs, improve economic and institutional efficiency, and protect and manage natural resources in developing countries.

The International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) – based at the Independent University, Bangladesh – is one of the leading research and capacity building organisations working in climate change and development in Bangladesh. ICCCAD’s mission is to gain and distribute knowledge on climate change with a focus on climate change adaptation, and thereby help people to adapt to climate change. ICCCAD’s activities focuses on:

1. building capacity and training future and current leaders on Climate Change and Development,
2. conducting research to generate peer reviewed publications
3. building and leading a network of partners.

The Centre, since its establishment in 2009, has developed extensive country-specific knowledge and experience on local issues regarding climate change adaptation, mitigation, climate finance, policy and institutional arrangements and capacity building needs in Bangladesh. The centre has over 500 Alumni across 50 countries around the Globe and is the country host of the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN). ICCCAD regularly publishes its research findings in different mediums to reach a wide range of stakeholders.

The Sustainable Water Future Programme (Water Future) of Future Earth is a global platform facilitating international scientific collaboration to drive solutions to the world’s water problems. Consistent with the broad objectives of the Sustainable Development Goal for Water, research conducted through Water Future seeks to ensure a balance between the needs of humankind and nature, and to offer real solutions, underpinned by interdisciplinary science, to deliver a sustainable ‘water world’. Water Future champions the application of integrated research to generate solutions that can be used to support policies for sustainable development. The programme serves as an ideas incubator, network hub and translator of scientific findings to address science, engineering, governance and management issues and drive policy change. The programme brings a unique, systems-level perspective to develop integrated approaches for both diagnosing water-related challenges and crafting innovative solutions.

water-future.org