The first cohort of the SASSCAL Graduate Study Programme in Integrated Water Resources Management (SGSP-IWRM) has commenced their studies. The 15 students are drawn from the five SASSCAL member states namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
On Friday, 17 June 2022, SASSCAL Executive Director, Dr Jane Olwoch presided over the event during which the students received laptops and were allocated office space at the HTTPS Building at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Windhoek, where the programme is being hosted.
Dr Olwoch urged the students to make the SGSP-IWRM a successful brand by taking their studies seriously, working hard and conducting themselves in a way that upholds the good image of the study programme.
SASSCAL Executive Director Jane Olwoch (front row centre) with NUST Executive Director for Research Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Anna Matros Goreses (front row right), SGSP-IWRM Acting Director, Ms Rennie Munyayi (front row left), students and project staff during the laptop hand over ceremony
Dr Olwoch advised the students to acquire the values of consistency, developing passion and being grateful for this rare opportunity since the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), SASSCAL Council of Ministers, SASSCAL Governing Board and staff from SASSCAL and Project staff members at NUST are working hard to ensure that the study programme is a success.
NUST Executive Director for Research Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Anna Matros-Goreses (left), one of the students and SASSCAL Executive Director, Dr Jane Olwoch during the laptop handover
The three-year SGSP-IWRM programme, which runs from 2022 until 2024, was launched in April this year at a time when SASSCAL celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary.
The Programme aims to establish an innovative and excellent regional collaborative doctoral programme in IWRM; develop tailor-made short courses for decision-makers and industry; develop a new curriculum for a new regional PhD qualification in IWRM; and develop a blueprint document for the transformation of the SGSP-IWRM into a SASSCAL Centre/Institute of Excellence in IWRM for Namibia.
NUST Executive Director in the Directorate of Research Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Anna Matros-Goreses reported that all the 15 students are now in the country, and they have commenced their studies – engaging with their lecturers and supervisors and attending the technical study seminars organized to assist them undertake their theses. Ms. Rennie Munyayi, SGSP-IWRM Acting Director also added that the Student Progress Dashboard has been developed as well as the SGSP – IWRM Programme Prospectus.
SASSCAL has provided 2.4 million Euros worth of funding to establish the SGSP – IWRM at NUST. The scholarships include tuition fees, accommodation, meals, and a living stipend for the three-year study period.
SASSCAL Executive Director Dr Jane Olwoch and participants inspect the allocation of student office space at the HTTPS building at NUST
