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Strengthening Global Partnerships: PoVE Water Conference in South Africa

26-11-2024

Last week, from 18 to 22 November 2024, the Platform of Vocational Excellence (PoVE) in Water conference took place in South Africa, hosted by the Stellenbosch University Water Institute. Maastricht School of Management (MSM) was proud to be part of this significant event, which brought together delegates from Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, and the Czech Republic at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS).

The conference provided an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the progress made in vocational education within the water sector, plan future activities, and strengthen international partnerships.

Within the PoVE Water project MSM plays a pivotal role as Work Package 4 coordinator, managing the development of innovative online learning materials, including VR learning tools, and contributing expertise in building the PoVE framework. With our advisory role rooted in Triple Helix collaboration, MSM’s activities form a core part of the project’s main deliverables.

The Hackathon: Practical Solutions to Real Challenges
One of the key highlights was a hackathon that united European and South African experts, including representatives from technical and vocational colleges, the Department of Water and Sanitation, local municipalities, and the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA).

Participants collaborated in teams to address real-world challenges facing the South African water sector. This hands-on approach fostered innovation and practical solutions, demonstrating the power of international cooperation in tackling pressing environmental issues.

The hackathon challenged participants to collaboratively develop solutions to four pressing issues in the South African water sector:

  1. Improving water quality monitoring and real-time reporting.
  2. Addressing water loss through leak detection and infrastructure maintenance.
  3. Enhancing predictive analytics for drought and flood management.
  4. Promoting community engagement in water conservation.

Teams used design thinking methodologies to explore these challenges and presented innovative solutions, including detailed roadmaps for implementation, to a panel of judges. The event fostered creative problem-solving, interdisciplinary teamwork, and knowledge sharing across borders.

Launch of South African Centres of Vocational Excellence in Water
Coinciding with the conference was the official launch of the South African Centres of Vocational Excellence in Water, a collaborative initiative with EWSETA. This launch marks a significant step forward in enhancing vocational training and education in the water sector, aiming to develop skilled professionals who can contribute to sustainable water management.

MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies

This institutional collaboration project is part of MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The department is an expert centre on sustainable private sector development in emerging and developing markets.​ We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture and health. For more information click here.

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EU-funded project for Vocational Excellence in sustainable water management