WATERLINE partners have iniaitived the work on WP3: Capacity building for education, R&I, entrepreneurship, lead by DEU-DESUM.
The work will be consisting of the following elements:
Co-creation of Master Program Components:
The collaborative effort involves integrating relevant components from existing programs and curricula at partner universities. The Master program will consist of modules and a research dissertation, leading to an agreed number of ECTS. An academic committee, comprising experts from each participating institution, will guide the selection of specific water topics, ensuring alignment with emulation laboratories and three Learning Environments (T4.2). The entire program, initially prepared in English, will be translated into respective languages post-project, with translation costs covered by the requesting organization.
Strategic Student Recruitment:
Task 3.1 also emphasizes the development of a strategy for attracting and recruiting students. The academic committee will engage in online meetings with WATERLINE ambassador networks and associated partners (EWA) to explore innovative ways of attracting future students. This strategy will be refined through virtual workshops, ensuring a robust plan for student enrollment.
Capacity Building for Research and Education:
Task 3.2, led by NMBU, focuses on implementing the Research and Innovation (R&I) capacity-building plan. This includes a 15-day summer school, a virtual seminar on scientific paper writing, and a two-day Forum at each participating HEI. The Forum aims to connect researchers with industry, government, and citizens to understand needs, challenges, and commercialization opportunities. Additionally, e-learning training on life cycle approaches and face-to-face training on personal and professional development skills will enhance participants' skills in water sustainability.
Mainstreaming Entrepreneurial Mindset:
Task 3.3, led by MCAST, underscores the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset among researchers. Blended learning approaches, including online modules and workshops, will be used. Group work, led by industry or policy challenge owners, will be assessed through surveys. The culmination of this training will be an innovation competition in the form of a Hackathon, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.
