WATERWISE-Advancing Water Sustainability in the Green Transition: A European Educational Initiative.

The motivation for the ‘WATERWISE’ project stems from the critical need to address water sustainability in the broader context of the European Green Transition. Water is a vital resource that intersects with several sectors and plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability and climate resilience. The project aims to help with existing gaps in understanding and awareness of water issues in Europe, highlighting its geopolitical and everyday implications. The project’s funding is justified by its potential to contribute significantly to the European Union’s priorities on environmental sustainability and climate action. By strengthening higher education capacity, promoting awareness and fostering collaboration across sectors, the project aligns with EU objectives to stimulate innovative teaching and learning practices and address environmental challenges. The project has a budget of 120,000 Euros and is constituted by an international consortium represented by Italy, Cyprus and Spain.

The main objectives of the project are: to strengthen the capacity of higher education in Europe on environmental issues (SO1), to promote awareness and understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to green transition, environment and climate change (SO2), to strengthen collaboration and synergies in the context of the European green transition (SO3): to promote collaboration between different sectors, including VET, academia, the business community, civil society and institutions.

WATERWISE activities will include: i) research on water strategy and policy where extensive research on national water strategies and policies will be carried out in order to formulate a positive water strategy, ii) development of a higher education programme on water management with the issuance of ‘blue credentials’ for professionals and future managers in the sector and iii) awareness raising campaign.