March 22-27, 2017, the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences held the fifth meeting of the participants of Water Harmony Erasmus + project , which was attended by teachers from Norway, Poland, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and China.
The aim of Water Harmony Erasmus + is the harmonization of higher education in water related fields in partner countries.Project coordinator, prof. Harsha Ratnaweera underlines: “The project is a two-way street. All countries have both strengths and problems in the subject areas. Therefore, the exchange of experience is the basis for activities within the framework of the project”.
The main topic of the meeting was the joint development of six educational disciplines: Water resource management, Water supply, Municipal wastewater treatment, Industrial wastewater management, Innovation and entrepreneurship, Academic writing and presentation. The idea of the project is to create modular training materials, which will allow each of the partner university, independently form the training courses, choose the necessary lessons from the general box of knowledge.
The participants discussed the issues of studentы and teacherы mobility within the framework of the project. There were two staff mobilities in 2016: into the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology. Furthermore, 11 students from Ukrainian universities was enrolled for annual training at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and their colleagues – 5 students from Poland, training in partner universities from Ukraine.
In addition, in 2016 the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka) conducted an intensive course for students from partner universities. Participants of the intensive course from Germany shared their impressions with the project coordinators: “At home, we do not notice what we know and what we have. In Germany, high-quality drinking water from a tap is a normal situation, not a luxury. In Sri Lanka it is not available, so our experience can be useful to change the situation. It inspires and motivates to do something new” – said Anna Busch.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit one of the largest water exhibitions in Europe, which takes place every two years – Wasser Berlin. Besides familiarizing themselves with the latest technical trends, representatives of partner universities had the opportunity to establish connections with enterprises, which were taking part in exhibition, and discuss areas of cooperation.
– An important part of the project is the development of a professional network between six countries. Each project meeting strengthens the family of Water Harmony, which means that even after the end of the project, the partners will stay in touch and work together” – mentioned prof. Ratnaweera.
More information about the project: www.waterh.eu
