▪ A group of Central Asian experts, led by the leader of the team supported by the World Bank, the EU, SDC and UKAID that prepared the 2019 “Review of water related academic and educational capacities in Central Asia” updates the review and on its basis presents a set of concrete recommendations for updating existing or developing new curricula, with focus on skills development.
▪ Central Asian universities share those parts of their present curricula with implementing partners which include subjects related to water governance or water diplomacy. The submitted curricula is analyzed by a team of experts of each implementing and cooperating partner. Consultations are held online to minimize costs. Facilities for videoconferencing to discuss outcomes and agree on a road map are provided free of charge by European implementing partners and DKU as in-kind contribution.
▪ Three groups of three experts of implementing partners visit the 12 Central Asian universities for needs and capacity assessment that includes faculty, students and managements, and assessment of stakeholder’s needs, including government officials, the academic community, representatives of the government, collective and private sectors (water users, hydropower, agriculture, industry and communal water supply)
▪ A visit to each country lasts 4 days. 2 days to visit the two universities to get acquainted with the teaching of present curricula, and 2 days for stakeholder consultations.
▪ Composition of the groups: o Group 1: Kazakhstan: DA MFA KR, UB and DKU o Group 2: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: DA MFA KR , IHE-DELFT and DKU o Group 3: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: DA MFA KR , URCA and DKU
▪ The team agrees on recommendations for upgrading and introducing innovative elements in present curricula or designing new, innovative curricula in light of needs assessment. A road map for joint work is agreed upon.
▪ The project management team organizes and supports working groups on updating existing or developing new MA/MSc curricula on water governance and water diplomacy. Teaching materials are developed by experts, with the involvement of stakeholders.
▪ Subcontracting two task forces of outstanding Central Asian experts on (a) Political and institutional aspects of water diplomacy in Central Asia b) Legal and institutional aspects of regional cooperation on water and regional organizations in Central Asia
▪ Expert groups are set up by implementing partners to develop curricula, textbooks, methodology and guidelines on the following subjects: o Economic and financial aspects of integrated water resources management (IHE-DELFT, CUB and DKU) o Structural reforms in support of the water sector (CUB and IHE-DELFT) o Institutional and legal aspects of water governance (national) (IHE-DELFT, DKU, UR) o Institutional and legal basis of regional cooperation on water (IHE-DELFT, CUB) o Interplay between humans and the environment (UB) o Governance of socio-ecological systems (UR) o Strategic and political aspects of water governance (DA MFA KR, CUB, UB) o Water diplomacy as a specialized field of diplomacy (DA MFA KR, CUB, IHE-DELFT) o Water diplomacy at multilateral fora and organizations (DA MFA KR, CUB, IHE-DELFT) o Management of water related conflicts (DA MFA KR, CUB, IHE-DELFT)
▪ Online meetings at regular intervals (equipment and technical support provided as in-kind contribution by implementing partners)
▪ Final drafts of the curricula and teaching materials approved.
Student selection criteria established in light of the approved curricula.
▪ Final, face to face meeting in Almaty for the presentation, discussion and approval of the curricula developed by the working groups
▪ Assessment and presentation of present selection criteria for students, proposal for new selection criteria and assessment methodology
▪ Central Asian partner universities start the accreditation process of the MA/MSc courses at national level
▪ Central Asian universities (in case there is no need for new accreditation) start teaching the updated or new curricula
▪ IHE-DELFT (group 1) and DA MFA KR (group 2) organize two short-term (two week) training courses for teaching staff of Central Asian HEIs during the summer break (18 and 21 participants respectively) on substantive topics of water governance and water diplomacy. Experts having worked on curricula development are invited to deliver lectures and hold training courses. The first group consists of faculty to teach water governance, the second group consists of faculty to teach water diplomacy and related subjects.
▪ Group 1 training course at IHE-DELFT (water governance): Subjects to be included in the training programme: o Economic and financial aspects of integrated water resources management o Structural reforms in support of the water sector o Institutional and legal aspects of water resources management (national) o Institutional and legal basis of regional cooperation on water o Interplay between humans and the environment o Governance of socio-ecological systems Teaching facilities (auditoriums, computers, audio and other electronic equipment) provided as in-kind contribution by the host university
▪ Group 2 training course at DA MFA KR (water diplomacy): Group 2 training course at DA MFA KR (water diplomacy): Subjects to be included in the training programme to include: o History of regional cooperation on water in Central Asia o International water law and its application in Central Asia o Institutional and legal frameworks for regional cooperation on water o Economic and financial aspects of water governance o Strategic and political aspects of water governance o Water diplomacy as a specialized field of diplomacy o Water diplomacy at multilateral fora and organizations o Management of water related conflicts
▪ English language training courses first for faculty and then for students who have successfully passed entry exams for courses on water governance and water diplomacy are organized. EU universities organize special courses on reading, writing and presentation skills on subjects covered by the updated or newly developed curricula.
▪ Subcontracting: study by a team of outstanding Central Asian experts on the quality of English language training and available capacity and needs (teaching staff, methodology, technical equipment, etc.) at the 12 partner HEIs
▪ Online consultation on reading, writing and presentation skills in English (with focus on special requirements for water diplomats):
▪ Discussions (in online format) with partner universities and stakeholders on the regional programme for continuous professional development and research, Establishment of a regional programme for continuous professional development and research at the Kazakh-German University. Signing of cooperation agreements between the regional programme for continuous professional development and research and the 12 universities participating in the project as cooperation partners on two way cooperation: accepting students from universities to join the regional programme and employing graduates of the programme as faculty to teach the updated or newly developed curricula on water resources management and water diplomacy. Coaching sessions and workshops by European experts and Central Asian graduate students and experts on selected research topics to launch research programs.
▪ Support to research activities and continued training, expanded opportunities for mobility to facilitate participation in research programs offered by European implementing partners for selected faculty, students and graduates as in-kind contribution
▪ Establishment and implementation of a dissemination plan, development and distribution of brochures, establishment of a project website, negotiating and signing MoU-s among Central Asian universities on enhancing mobility of faculty and students studying the updated or newly developed curricula, agreements between EU universities and Central Asian partner universities on enhancing mobility of faculty and students.
▪ Central Asian partner universities post materials on their websites and organize information meetings as in-kind contribution
▪ Regular activities to support distribution and outreach, as proposed in partner data templates, quarterly reports on accomplished activities
▪ Determination of the criteria for the formation of the supervisory board. Through the establishment of a supervisory board and with support by quality control experts of EU universities, an efficient mechanism for conducting regular monitoring, evaluation and quality control of project delivery is ensured. Determination of a general plan for assessing the quality of the project. Curriculum development and quality assessment. Final performance assessment by the board.
▪ The management team at DA MFA KR initiates, upon signature of the Grant Agreement, negotiations with all EU universities (implementing partners) and Central Asian universities (collaborating partners) on Partnership Agreements. The Partnership Agreements are to be based on the distribution of tasks and deliverables, as well as timelines, defined in the project document. The individual Agreements are the documents on the basis of which the project management team will assign tasks and check that they are being completed to the required standard. The Partnership Agreements clearly set out the rights and obligations of the people involved in the implementation of the project (team leader, team members, administrative staff). The Partnership Agreements are to be negotiated in writing and through video conferences and signed within six months after signature of the Grant Agreement.
▪ Elaboration of and agreement on operating rules for the management of the project, establishment of a project management structure at DA MFA KR University with contact points at partner universities.
▪ Provision of assistance and support to the project partners during all stages of the project implementation phase, with regards to activities to be carried out, as well as in relation to the administrative and financial rules of EU funded projects;
▪ managing, coordinating and developing the project, ensuring proper governance and quality of the project,
▪ meeting project objectives, following the grant agreement and the instructions of the Agency
▪ ensuring internal and external communication of the project’s progress and results,
▪ controlling the quality of all project activities in order to monitor the achievement of the project objectives and understand whether the outcomes of the project meet the needs of partners and other stakeholders after its final completion
▪ Implementing and if necessary modifying project activities on the basis of the prepared project management plan, along with the timetable of work tasks and project deliverables (shown latter)
▪ setting up a control and monitoring system of the project in order to ensure the correct and efficient implementation of the project work plan and, in case of delays/specific issues, implementing appropriate mitigation measures.
▪ Altogether, responsibilities include technical, administrative and financial implementation of the project, as described below
EN 
RU