STUDENT COURSE IN IWRM - INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

The DRIMON Project's Course for Students ~ September 2009

The DRIMON Partners have organised an International Student Course on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) 14-18 September 2009. Fifteen M.Sc. and Ph.D. students from Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro attended the course which was held in Durres, on the Adriatic coast of Albania.

 

The DRIMON Partners have organised an International Student Course on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) 14-18 September 2009. Fifteen M.Sc. and Ph.D. students from Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro attended the course which was held in Durres, on the Adriatic coast of Albania.

The aim of the course was to give the students an overview of the various concepts within Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The students are enlisted within several different topics related to water and catchment studies, and through this course they were familiarised with the wider concept of this field. Since the Balkans have such a high percentage of Europe’s transboundary waters, the many challenges related to water management can only be solved through international co-operation. The course enabled new friendships to form amongst young professionals, and thus helped facilitate future co-operation across borders.  

During one full week, lectures were given on different concepts within IWRM, including

  • Concepts within IWRM
  • Overview of the EU Water Framework Directive
  • Stakeholder analysis
  • Sector analyses (hydropower, agriculture, sewage)
  • Catchment processes – erosion and soil loss
  • Use of GIS
  • Catchment models
  • Riverine and lake processes
  • Biology in rivers and lakes 

Some of the students also presented their own work linked to their studies, either in posters or in presentations.

A field trip to Vau Dejes Hydropower Dam in the Drin River, and to Skadar Lake was also organised. This is an international river system including altogether five countries.

 

  

  Gathering around for demonstration of the use of a GPS.
 

Evaluations, photos and impressions

  

Food and the social aspect is important ingredients for a good course.

For the organisers, it was perhaps the mingling of students from three Balkan countries that was the main proof of a successful DRIMON event. During the week, new friendships were made and we hope that these may result in future cooperation across borders. The high percentage of internationally shared waters in this region means that cooperation across borders is extremely important.

The evaluation of the course gave very positive responces, where the students expressed that more such courses should be held. Advice to us as organisers included more lessons on legislative and management issues, as well as more group work.

 

  

 
  Field trip to River Drin and the Vau Dejes Dam.
 

 
Masha Zdralevich from Montenegro presents a poster on ecotoxicology in Lake Skadar.   River Drin meeting River Buna. In total, this river system runs through 5 countries.
 

 
Bledar Pepa from Albania is explaining how macroinvertebrates can be used as bioindicators.   The course was divided into lectures and group work. Students' evaluations indicated that especially the group work was much appreciated.
 
Biljana Jordanoska from Macedonia presenting a poster on water quality in Lake Prespa and River Golema Reka.   Ivan Mincev from Macedonia is presenting GIS work done in River Goema.
   
    Enkeleda Nikleka from Albania is explaining about the water quality of Tiranas drinking water source.

 
 

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Published by Eva Skarbøvik, Bioforsk, 2009

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