News Archive (2007)
Yellow River Conservancy Commission (January 2007)
ICE WaRM is delivering a new Professional Development Programme for international groups to access Australia’s unique capabilities in water management practices. Each programme is tailored in duration and content to meet specific client needs, and can include, for example, components of English language training, academic studies, short courses, industry placements and technical study tours.
The Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) is one of seven commissions of the Ministry of Water Resources in China. As the first international group to participate in the ICE WaRM Professional Development programme, 18 professionals from YRCC will be in Adelaide for a period of eleven months. A smaller group from YRCC had visited UniSA in 2004, and the current programme builds on that experience. The delegation will undertake post-graduate studies through UniSA in conjunction with other ICE WaRM partners, and will use their industry placement to observe Australian innovations in water management practices and to develop knowledge and skills that may be adapted when they return to China.
ICE WaRM is the principal facilitator in this initiative that actively supports the international effort to engage in ‘trans-boundary’ education and collaboration between countries facing similar challenges in water resources management. ICE WaRM has been awarded funding under the Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship programme to augment the YRCC activities by providing additional English Language Training, improved industry placements, additional workshop and seminar activities and an evaluation by senior YRCC officials.
ICE WaRM LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE TO SUSTAIN DWINDLING WATER RESOURCES
Adelaide, July 30, 2007
Australia’s International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM) today officially launched an important initiative to help tackle the water crisis head-on – a post-graduate program to train the new leaders who will spearhead the management of our scarce water resources.
The Masters program in Water Resources Management is the first of its kind in Australia and covers cutting-edge developments in water quality and treatment, irrigation, water infrastructure, catchment management, aquatic ecosystem management, groundwater hydrology, hydrogeology and public health.
ICE WaRM Chief Executive, Richard Hopkins, believes the program - a three-semester Master degree, two-semester Graduate Diploma and single-semester Graduate Certificate – is a vital weapon to counter the critical global skills shortage in water management.
“There’s never been a greater need for a new breed of water management experts,” Mr Hopkins says. “Australia is one of many countries facing a chronic skills shortage in this area and the situation has been substantially worsened by the coincidence of the drought and climate change.
“Historically, Australian water authorities were staffed by highly-qualified experts with extensive on-the-job training and experience,” he says. “But over the last 15 years, a skills shortage has developed. Many of the experts are growing older together and don’t have enough time to train their successors.
“This Masters program is vital to fast-track the young innovators who will lead us through the water resources challenges of the 21st century.”
A total of 57 students from Australia and overseas – including China, India, Sri Lanka and Latin America - have enrolled in the program.
“Water education in Australia traditionally has been part of an engineering degree,” Mr Hopkins says. “Although those are valuable qualifications, the technical side is just one aspect of the increasingly complex process of water resources management.
“This Masters program will develop the next generation of experts who can help us overcome one of the most pressing global issues – managing our limited water resources.”
The Masters program is offered through ICE WaRM’s partners - the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Deakin University and the University of Central Queensland.
About ICE WaRM
The International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM) is Australia’s leading water resources education, training and research organisation. ICE WaRM has helped create Australia’s first water resources management master degree, graduate diploma and graduate certificate programs for local and international students. It also hosts award-winning study tours for representatives of overseas governments and water authorities and assists in the development of industry and community-focused research. ICE WaRM was established in 2004 as a Federal Government initiative, supported by the South Australian Government, and is based in Adelaide. Its founding partners are the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Deakin University and the University of Central Queensland.
ICE WaRM Wins WIA Award (July 2007)
For the second consecutive year, ICE WaRM was recognised by the Water Industry Alliance (WIA) as a leader in international water education and training, winning the Emerging Exporter award.
ICE WaRM received the Emerging Exporter award for the successful development and implementation of its Technical Study Tour programme, with a strong export focus. The programme involves the designing and implementation of study tours around Australia, to showcase current water resource issues and emerging technologies to international clients. (Two recent examples are described above.)
In 2006, ICE WaRM was successful in winning the WIA Award, in the Collaborative Teaming category. Our success in 2006 added significantly to ICE WaRM’s recognition within Australia and internationally, and to the promotion of the Master programme.
ICE WaRM Wins Major Business and Education Award (November 2007)
ICE WaRM has won another major national business and education award for its innovative professional development programmes.
ICE WaRM and partners have been handed the Business/ Higher Education Round Table’s (B-HERT) 2007 Award for Outstanding International Collaboration in Education and Training for its ground-breaking professional development programme with China’s Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC).
The YRCC programme is managed by ICE WaRM and has involved extensive collaboration with its five founding partner universities in three states – led by the University of South Australia, with the University of Adelaide, Deakin University, Flinders University and Central Queensland University – as well as the water industry and other key stakeholders in Australia.
The year-long programme – which includes English language training, postgraduate academic studies, an industry placement and a technical study tour - is specially designed to meet the needs of the YRCC and is linked to ICE WaRM’s award-winning Master of Water Resources Management course.
It takes a thorough approach to sustainable water resources management – linking the traditional technical subjects with non-technical aspects, including the environment and public health.
ICE WaRM Chief Executive Richard Hopkins says the programme will help develop more sustainable use of water resources in China’s second largest river, which is known as the cradle of Chinese culture.
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