IAHR EGW Introduction

Engineering Graduate School Environment Water

The Engineering Graduate School Environment Water (EGW) of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR [1]) is a network of several institutions offering courses at a high academic level on water and environment related fields. The courses are directed to graduate students, post-graduates and professionals. For academic recognition a the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and an appropriate quality control is applied.

Basic idea
Water is indispensable for life and for the development of our societies and has become a coveted economic good, whose management will be one of the main problems of the 21st century. Water related problems such as water shortages, floods and water pollution are not limited to specific regions or countries, the development and realisation of sustainable solutions is called for an international scale.

For coping with environment water related problems, an increasing number of well qualified professionals is required. New practices and research results must be transferred into practice immediately. Furthermore, there in an urgent need for qualified and specialised training of research students oriented at interdisciplinary collaboration and holistic management. Since formal education programs in Europe and world wide are traditionally oriented at the respective national systems, a specific need for continuing education courses on world wide level exists.

Scope and objectives of IAHR-EGW
IAHR-EGW functions as an umbrella for the benefit of all partners, channeling and coordinating individual activities with a minimum of administration, maintaining a maximum of individual freedom and responsibility for the various course organizers, but providing quality assurance for the activities. It is a main activity of the IAHR Section on Education and Professional Development (EPD).

IAHR-EGW has been initiated in 1997 by Prof. Kobus from the Institut für Wasserbau, Universität Stuttgart, Germany. In the last years IAHR-EGW has grown to be an network of about 20 partners which mainly come from Europe, the extension to a global scale is on the way. Individual courses are offered each year and directed at Msc. and PhD. students as well as professionals from management and industry. Most courses within the IAHR-EGW framework are taught in English.

The offer of individual IAHR-EGW courses, of IAHR-EGW summer schools as well as the integration of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) methods will be continued. Technical training courses and other education forms such as young scientists workshops complete the programs.

Academic Recognition
The European Community Course Credit Transfer System ECTS is applied for academic recognition of the courses. An evaluation of the study work will be done according to the ECTS grading scale.

Quality Assessment
The goal of IAHR-EGW is to offer courses at a high academic level and to provide quality assurance for these activities. For the realisation of IAHR-EGW courses the following quality criteria are defined:
The goal of IAHR-EGW is to offer courses at a high academic level and to provide quality assurance for these activities. For the realisation of IAHR-EGW courses the following quality criteria are defined: Institution: Only institutions offering PhD programs in water and environmental related fields can become active partners.
Lecturer: Lecturers of IAHR-EGW courses are well qualified Professors at active institutions or lecturers with an equivalent qualification and experience in consulting.

Coordination of IAHR-EGW
The activities and initiatives of IAHR-EGW are coordinated by the secretary Prof. Hinkelmann from the Fachgebiet Wasserwirtschaft und Hydroinformatik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, in cooperation with the IAHR Section on Education and Professional Development (EPD). All interested IAHR members are invited to join this activity. For further information, please contact us.