Проект «Эразмус+»: Институциональное партнерство в целях устойчивости

трансграничного водопользования: Россия и Казахстан

ERASMUS+: Project 561775-EPP-1-2015-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP Trans-Regional Environmental Awareness for Sustainable Usage of Water Resources

(TREASURE-WATER)

 

On June 21, 2016,  the Regional Institute for International Cooperation  at Tyumen State University, a coordinating institution for the  partner countries in the project consortium, held a video conference in the framework of the project of European Commission  ERASMUS+ Project 561775-EPP-1-2015-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP Trans-Regional Environmental Awareness for Sustainable Usage of Water Resources (TREASURE-WATER). The workshop was attended by 39 representatives of all academic partners in the consortium from Russia and Kazakhstan (Tyumen State University, Altai State University, Tomsk State University, Yugra State University, East-Kazakhstan State University named after S. Amanzholov, Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilev).

During the discussion, questions were raised about the forms of cooperation of universities with different public institutions in the field of transboundary water management; the optimisation of the inter-institutional working groups on the project; the specific issues and objectives for the databases development, to support the academic modules and courses for the continuing education of water enterprises personnel. The preliminary results of the first and second work packages of the project were considered, including the analysis of the existing teaching plans and curricular for the courses in transboundary water management at the university-partners. The draft of the unified questionnaire and a survey of organizations and enterprises selected as the project partners have been discussed and will be completed and circulated among the partners, after consultation with the EU colleagues.  The issues of wide dissemination of the project activities and intermediary results on the Internet and the local media have been particularly emphasised.

As a result of the fruitful discussion, there were identified the  challenges and objectives  to be achieved  by the inter-university working groups in the main areas of the project activity (development of a strategy for cooperation with companies in the field of transboundary water management and establishment of strategic partnerships with universities, companies and authorities; accumulation of information resources on environmental and legal aspects of water resource management; development of training courses in accordance with employers' demands in the water sector. The proposals for optimizing the interaction within inter-university groups including the European and non-European partners and  combining education activities with the scientific developments were brought up for discussion, as well as the practical administrative challenges (e.g. finalisation of the process of signing the partnership agreement by all partners and financial matters).

Overall, the videoconference has proved to be an effective instrument for up-dating on the project development, improving the interaction among the partners and creating motivation for specific activities. This instrument will be further developed and used by the consortium for regular communication and transparency and will include in the future all the EU and non-EU partners.