U'S' Palestinian Linkages UPLINK Program

1
U.S. Palestinian Linkages (UPLINK) Program
Capacity Building for a Program in Water
Resources Management in Gaza and the West Bank
Aug 11-14, 2003Washington DC
Funded by U.S. Agency for International
Development through the Association Liaison
Office for University Cooperation in Development
2
Partner Institutions

• Purdue University
• The Islamic University of Gaza (IU-Gaza)
• An-Najah University
• Bethlehem University
• Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)

3
Program Elements

• Development of an M.Sc. Degree program in water
  resource management to be offered through
  IU/Gaza, Bethlehem University, and An-Najah
  University.
• Technical training and capacity building support
  for the PWA offered as an outreach activity by
  the cooperating universities.

4
Program Elements (cont.)

• Non-degree training for staff of cooperating
  universities to strengthen the ability of
  universities to provide public education on
  environmental and health issues relative to water
  management.
• An interdisciplinary applied research program to
  address critical problems in water resource
  management in the region. Research topics will be
  selected according to PWA need and guidelines.

5
Sequence of Tasks

• Planning and needs assessment (telephone and
  email Spring 2001)
• Team meeting in Amman(March 2002)
• Pilot testing of M.Sc. Curriculum (Academic Year
  2002/03)

6
Sequence of Tasks (cont.)

• Training for PWA personnel (Summer 2003)
• Technology Transfer and Dissemination Workshops
  (Summer 2003)
• Program Evaluation (Summer 2003)

7
Task 1

• Needs Assessment

• 1. Determine core competencies required by water
  resources management professionals to guide
  development of curriculum.
• Identify specific needs for future M.Sc.
  programmatic development in water resources
  management.

8
Needs Assessment (cont.)

• Review current water management curriculum at
  partner institutions.
• Begin to draft outline of M.Sc. Curriculum in
  water resources management and assign team
  members to write key curriculum materials.

9
Needs Assessment (cont.)

• Initiate discussions on outreach elements of
  programs relative to regional needs and
  priorities begin to develop these training
  materials.
• Initiate discussions on research elements of
  program as a) a component of M.Sc. Degree
  program, and b) a service of universities to the
  public water sector.
• Organize the Advisory Committee which will
  support program implementation.

10
Advisory Committee
(Proposal suggests 11-member committee chaired by
President of Islamic University of Gaza)

• Function Continuous project evaluation to
  assure that the program meets local needs and is
  sensitive to changing water sector needs over
  time the Advisory committee is also responsible
  to seek continuing funding beyond project end
  date.

11
Advisory Committee (cont.)

• Composition Representative team proposed to
  include members from
• Palestinian Water Authority (2 members)
• Community leaders from Gaza/West Bank (2 members)
• Government authorities, with water and health
  responsibilities (2 members)
• Faculty from university partners in Gaza /West
  Bank (3 members)
• Graduates from new M.Sc. Degree program (future
  2 members)
• Meetings Quarterly to provide recommendations
  to university partners on program progress,
  special needs, relevance, and emerging priorities
  for water resources management.

12
Task 2

• Team Meeting in Amman March 2002

• Continue M.Sc. Curriculum development with Purdue
  partners goal was to complete first draft of
  the curriculum and the development of related
  instructional materials.
• Curriculum placement on Web Site
  http//pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/h2o/ and on CD-ROM
  for use by partner universities.
• Continue development of teaching materials
  relative to outreach, non-degree technical
  training, and applied research priorities based
  on earlier assessment of core competencies.

13
Task 3

• Pilot Testing of M.Sc. Curriculum

• M.Sc. Course developed by the writing teams
  taught on a trial basis by fall 2002.
• Course evaluation by students, PWA, and faculty
  will provide information to adjust content on a
  continuing basis.
• M.Sc. Students will begin to develop research
  activities in consultation with PWA technical
  officers in partial fulfillment of degree
  requirements.
• Outreach activities, which will involve M.Sc.
  Students, will be planned during this period.

14
Task 4

• Training for PWA Personnel

Special training programs for Palestinian Water
Authority personnel will be completed and taught
on a trial basis program design will be
competency-based and assessed carefully to assure
relevance to sector needs. The technical training
and capacity building support for the PWA will be
upon PWA request according to its need.
15

• Technology Transfer and Dissemination Workshops

Task 5

• Current relevant applied research findings on
  water resources management will be presented to
  local water technical personnel and professors
  from partner universities in the Gaza/West Bank
  region. Faculty from other universities in the
  region will also be invited. Workshops will also
  feature the unique partnership that has evolved
  under this program.
• A public workshop will be offered to present
  educational material developed during the program
  and to share it with local municipal leaders and
  the general public.

16
Task 5

• Program Evaluation

• A full programmatic review will be led by the
  Advisory Committee to ensure program goals have
  been met and to set future plans to sustain the
  project beyond project end date.
• Further plans will be discussed to establish a
  formal linkage between the partner institutions
  (particularly with PWA) after project completion.
  These plans will be proposed to USAID for further
  support under the same program.

17
MS in Water Resources(36 credits)

• Introduction to water resources management
  (Prerequisite, 0 credits)
• Core courses (12-18 credits, including 3-6
  credits of social sciences and humanities and
  9-12 credits of water resources courses)
• Technical electives (6-9) (pick 2-3 courses out
  of these five!)
• Seminar (technical/sociopolitical/ethical/
  discussions) 3 credits
• Thesis (6 credits)
• University core (3 credits)

18
M.Sc. Curriculum

• B.Sc. In Science and Engineering is required
• A prerequisite zero credit summer course is
  required (this course covers basic soil
  principles, hydraulics, plant-water
  relationships, etc.)
• Additional prerequisites are required based on
  individual student background

19
Areas of Study and Courses

• WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
• Groundwater Flow and Transport
• Surface Water Flow and Transport
• Irrigation Principles and Practices
• WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• Water Resource Conservation and Management
• WATER QUALITY
• Water Quality Safety and Pollutants

20
Areas of Study and Courses (Cont.)

• STATISTICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL METHODS
• Statistical Methods in Water Resources
• Modeling of Water Resources Systems
• RESOURCE ECONOMICS/LAW/SEMINARS
• Water Utility Administration and Management
• Water Rights/Environmental Law
• SEMINAR

21
(No Transcript)
22
Outcome

• 25 applicants applied to join the program
• Of whom 15 will be accepted according to the
  university regulations
• The program is to start in Sept. 2002 to test the
  curriculum
• Despite the current situation, efforts are still
  made to have the program started in the West Bank

23
Admission Requirements

• Students are admitted into the program according
  to the following conditions
• Having B.S.c degree in engineering, applied
  science, from a recognized university .
• B.Sc. average not less than Grade Good.
• Two recommendation letters.
• Passing an academic interview.
• Satisfying the requirements for English language.

24
Tuition Fees

• Tuition fees are
• JD85 per credit hour
• JD 1500 for thesis.
• The costs of books, technical papers and other
  educational materials are not included in the
  tuition fees.

25
The Brochure

• A brochure was produced containing the the
  program information
• It was distributed to most of governmental and
  non-governmental institutions and the applicants
  as well

26
The Program Committee