Project Lead(s): Mandana Meriano
Issue
A major reason for insufficient access to safe drinking water is a lack of trained professionals to maintain the water systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently, training is done in western countries, with few trained professionals returning to their home countries. Some water projects are directed by foreign technical water specialists but often this expensive professional oversight is eliminated in favour of installing more wells. If more specialists were trained in-country, the cost of this professional oversight would be greatly reduced.
Solution
UniWater Education, in partnership with the University of Toronto, has developed the curriculum for a practical, applied MSc in Hydrogeology and Water Resources Management that can be taught at many established universities in Africa. The program is Africa-centered and is focused on teaching problem-solving skills, so that graduates have the ability to solve the challenges they face in their own communities.
To demonstrate proof of concept, the project team aimed to convince two established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa to host the MSc program. Every university contacted showed interest in hosting the program; therefore, the pilot was expanded to include three universities.
Funding was used to develop curricula that would be used to teach students the theory of hydrogeology, hydrology and water resources management.
Outcome
A program outline and lectures were developed and a pilot was initiated in three universities. However, the approval process within the universities took longer than anticipated, resulting in a delay in the start of these programs. The first programs are scheduled to begin in September 2016 and could have as many as 80 students enrolled.
These programs have received donations of 80 new textbooks for students in the pilot program, as well as used reference texts for departmental libraries.
Expansion of the program to other universities continues, with a goal of launching three to five new programs each year for the next 10 years.
There are plans to apply to Grand Challenges Canada for Phase II funding and it is anticipated transition to scale will take three years.