Water Resources Engineering – (M.Sc.)

Water is a fundamental human need and right. It underlies our food production, our economic activities, our livelihood, our health, and our environment on which all our water services depend. Freshwater is growing scarce amidst competing human needs. The world´s primary water supply will need to increase by 22 percent to meet the needs of all sectors in 2025, or the world needs to both consume less water and obtain greater benefits per unit volume of water used. A correct and sustainable exploitation and management of the fresh water resources is an obligation, underlining the need, amongst others, of well-trained water engineers and scientists.

The Interuniversity Master programme of Water Resources Engineering aims at increasing the number of professionals in the water sector, who are able to address adequately the global water concerns of today and tomorrow, and manage and safeguard the water needs and supply of future generations.

International Course Programme
This programme is jointly organized by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It is one of the International Course Programmes supported by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UDC).

IUPWARE´s objective is the provision of academic training to young engineers and scientists in water resources engineering. The programme places emphasis on imparting knowledge and skills in modern data processing and analysis techniques in combination with the use of mathematical models. Advanced engineering tools are considered to be essential for reaching effective, integrated and sustainable governance of water resources.

The development of efficient technical measures, policies and regulations requires a good understanding of the various underlying processes. An action that alters the hydrological cycle at one location and time may affect the water resource system at other locations and times. It is therefore important that engineers and scientists have a good insight into the interactions between human activities, water resources and the environment.

Whereas successful implementation of water resources development and management requires the involvement of all stakeholders, the creation of the right policy framework, and the means to correctly implement these policies, IUPWARE focuses in its academic programme on the provision of knowledge and skills in advanced engineering tools, such as mathematical models and modern data processing techniques, as a basis for:

* understanding the basic principles controlling the water quantity and quality in the land and water phase of the hydrological cycle;
* optimal allocation of the available water resources, fresh water, drainage water and treated sewage water, between competing users;
* design of water works and the definition of appropriate operation and management regulations for water development, conservation, supply, use, and excess management; and
* spatial and temporal prediction of changes in the quantity and quality of the water resource base as a function of the increasing population pressure and economic development.