Garry Pender is Professor of Environmental Engineering & Head, School of the Built Environment, Heriot-Watt University. He spoke to Anoop K Menon on the significance of the region’s first Water Resources MSc degree and the career opportunities it represents.
Tell us about the region’s first Water Resources MSc degree and why you saw the need for it?
The course will contribute to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals as well as the goals espoused in the UNESCO Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) initiative. In addition, climate change predictions suggest that the severity of droughts is likely to increase throughout the world. There is, therefore, a need for water resources to be better managed and for a new generation of engineers to be trained in up-to-date techniques of water management. The aim of the course is, therefore, to provide students with a sound understanding of sustainable water resources issues by developing the knowledge and skills necessary for, engineering, planning and management of water resources.
Given the significance of water in this region, do you think it has been sufficiently represented in the academic world?
Heriot Watt University has an outstanding reputation in all aspects of water engineering. Graduates of our UK-based postgraduate course are employed throughout the water industry in the design, construction and management of water resource schemes. The expansion of the courses taught on our Dubai campus to include civil engineering at undergraduate level has provided the opportunity to teach at a postgraduate level in the water resources field. Given the significance of water resources issues in the Gulf region, we believe there will be a significant demand for the engineering knowledge and skills that individuals will obtain from studying the course.
The course content comprises:
• Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources
• Water Conservation
• International Water Law
• Computer Simulation of River Flows
• Groundwater as a Water Resource
• Pollutant Transport in Rivers
• Water and Wastewater Treatment
• Urban Drainage Design and Analysis
What qualifications or experience would new students need to gain a place on the course?
Entry requirements for the course are an honours undergraduate degree in a suitable discipline, such as engineering, mathematics or geography. Prospective students without a degree qualification but with significant experience of the water industry will also be considered for entry. The course has been designed for both full-time and part-time study, making it accessible to students currently in employment.
There is always a fear that most academic courses have little relevance to the outside world. The other concern is about the course content being updated on a regular basis. What is your response?
Our UK-based version of the course has strong links with the local water industry through visiting lecturers and industrial advisory boards. These mechanisms ensure that the course content is relevant to industry needs and regularly updated in response to the changing demands of industry. It is our firm intention to mimic this arrangement in Dubai and we are currently seeking industry partners to join our industry group.
What are the career opportunities this course opens the doors to?
The course will prepare graduates for careers in the water industry, either in government-owned water utilities, private water companies or international consultants specialising in the design and construction of water resources schemes.
How long is the course and what is length of time students are required to be on campus? How much time do students need to devote to the course in study time?
The course takes one year full-time or two-years part-time. The course will be taught in blocks by Dubai staff and regular visits from UK-based staff. Typically, students will spend between 15 to 20 hours per week studying on the course.
How is the course assessed?
The course assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examination.
Lastly, how much will the course cost?
Dh60,000 and scholarships are also available.
