U.S. – Palestinian Linkages (UPLINK) Program

1. U.S. – Palestinian Linkages (UPLINK) Program “Capacity Building for a Program in Water Resources Management in Gaza and the West Bank” Aug 11-14, 2003Washington DC Funded by: U.S. Agency for International Development through the Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development

2. Partner Institutions Purdue University The Islamic University of Gaza (IU-Gaza) An-Najah University Bethlehem University Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)

3. Program Elements Development of an M.Sc. Degree program in water resource management to be offered through IU/Gaza, Bethlehem University, and An-Najah University. Technical training and capacity building support for the PWA offered as an outreach activity by the cooperating universities.

4. Program Elements (cont.) • Non-degree training for staff of cooperating universities to strengthen the ability of universities to provide public education on environmental and health issues relative to water management. • An interdisciplinary applied research program to address critical problems in water resource management in the region. Research topics will be selected according to PWA need and guidelines.

5. Sequence of Tasks Planning and needs assessment (telephone and email Spring 2001) Team meeting in Amman(March 2002) Pilot testing of M.Sc. Curriculum (Academic Year 2002/03)

6. Sequence of Tasks (cont.) • Training for PWA personnel (Summer 2003) • Technology Transfer and Dissemination Workshops (Summer 2003) • Program Evaluation (Summer 2003)

7. Task #1 • 1. Determine core competencies required by water resources management professionals to guide development of curriculum. • Identify specific needs for future M.Sc. programmatic development in water resources management. Needs Assessment

8. Needs Assessment (cont.) • Review current water management curriculum at partner institutions. • Begin to draft outline of M.Sc. Curriculum in water resources management and assign team members to write key curriculum materials.

9. Needs Assessment (cont.) • Initiate discussions on outreach elements of programs relative to regional needs and priorities; begin to develop these training materials. • Initiate discussions on research elements of program as: a) a component of M.Sc. Degree program, and b) a service of universities to the public water sector. • Organize the Advisory Committee which will support program implementation.

10. (Proposal suggests 11-member committee chaired by President of Islamic University of Gaza) Advisory Committee Function: Continuous project evaluation to assure that the program meets local needs and is sensitive to changing water sector needs over time; the Advisory committee is also responsible to seek continuing funding beyond project end date.

11. Advisory Committee (cont.) • Composition: Representative team proposed to include members from: • Palestinian Water Authority (2 members) • Community leaders from Gaza/West Bank (2 members) • Government authorities, with water and health responsibilities (2 members) • Faculty from university partners in Gaza /West Bank (3 members) • Graduates from new M.Sc. Degree program (future – 2 members) • Meetings: Quarterly to provide recommendations to university partners on program progress, special needs, relevance, and emerging priorities for water resources management.

12. Task #2 • Continue M.Sc. Curriculum development with Purdue partners ~ goal was to complete first draft of the curriculum and the development of related instructional materials. • Curriculum placement on Web Site http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~h2o/ and on CD-ROM for use by partner universities. • Continue development of teaching materials relative to outreach, non-degree technical training, and applied research priorities based on earlier assessment of core competencies. Team Meeting in Amman – March 2002

13. Task #3 • M.Sc. Course developed by the writing teams taught on a trial basis by fall 2002. • Course evaluation by students, PWA, and faculty will provide information to adjust content on a continuing basis. • M.Sc. Students will begin to develop research activities in consultation with PWA technical officers in partial fulfillment of degree requirements. • Outreach activities, which will involve M.Sc. Students, will be planned during this period. Pilot Testing of M.Sc. Curriculum

14. Task #4 Special training programs for Palestinian Water Authority personnel will be completed and taught on a trial basis; program design will be competency-based and assessed carefully to assure relevance to sector needs. The technical training and capacity building support for the PWA will be upon PWA request according to its need. Training for PWA Personnel

15. Task #5 • Current relevant applied research findings on water resources management will be presented to local water technical personnel and professors from partner universities in the Gaza/West Bank region. Faculty from other universities in the region will also be invited. Workshops will also feature the unique partnership that has evolved under this program. • A public workshop will be offered to present educational material developed during the program and to share it with local municipal leaders and the general public. Technology Transfer and Dissemination Workshops

16. Task #5 • A full programmatic review will be led by the Advisory Committee to ensure program goals have been met and to set future plans to sustain the project beyond project end date. • Further plans will be discussed to establish a formal linkage between the partner institutions (particularly with PWA) after project completion. These plans will be proposed to USAID for further support under the same program. Program Evaluation

17. MS in Water Resources(36 credits) • Introduction to water resources management (Prerequisite, 0 credits) • Core courses (12-18 credits, including 3-6 credits of social sciences and humanities and 9-12 credits of water resources courses) • Technical electives (6-9) (pick 2-3 courses out of these five!) • Seminar (technical/sociopolitical/ethical/… discussions) 3 credits • Thesis (6 credits) • University core (3 credits)

18. M.Sc. Curriculum • B.Sc. In Science and Engineering is required • A prerequisite zero credit summer course is required (this course covers basic soil principles, hydraulics, plant-water relationships, etc.) • Additional prerequisites are required based on individual student background

19. Areas of Study and Courses • WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING • Groundwater Flow and Transport • Surface Water Flow and Transport • Irrigation Principles and Practices • WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • Water Resource Conservation and Management • WATER QUALITY • Water Quality Safety and Pollutants

20. Areas of Study and Courses (Cont.) • STATISTICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL METHODS • Statistical Methods in Water Resources • Modeling of Water Resources Systems • RESOURCE ECONOMICS/LAW/SEMINARS • Water Utility Administration and Management • Water Rights/Environmental Law • SEMINAR

22. Outcome • 25 applicants applied to join the program • Of whom 15 will be accepted according to the university regulations • The program is to start in Sept. 2002 to test the curriculum • Despite the current situation, efforts are still made to have the program started in the West Bank

23. Admission Requirements: • Students are admitted into the program according to the following conditions: • Having B.S.c degree in engineering, applied science, from a recognized university . • B.Sc. average not less than Grade “Good”. • Two recommendation letters. • Passing an academic interview. • Satisfying the requirements for English language.

24. Tuition Fees • Tuition fees are: • JD85 per credit hour • JD 1500 for thesis. • The costs of books, technical papers and other educational materials are not included in the tuition fees.

25. The Brochure • A brochure was produced containing the the program information • It was distributed to most of governmental and non-governmental institutions and the applicants as well

26. The Program Committee