"Towards a Bilateral Platform for Knowledge Exchange & Talent Development"
Australia and the Netherlands share a special relationship with water. Over many years, they built extensive expertise and experience in fields such as flood preparedness & communication, water treatment, marine infrastructure, drought management, water policy & planning and aquatic ecosystems. Both countries are home to a strong water sector with private and public organisations that enjoy a world-class reputation in their field. Taking full advantage of their combined strengths, the water sectors of Australia and the Netherlands have expressed a mutual interest and ambition to intensify co-operation in the coming years.
The Australia-Netherlands Water Challenge aims to strengthen the relationship between the water sectors of Australia and the Netherlands by creating a bilateral platform for knowledge exchange and talent development. To this end, the programme is focused on two key deliverables:
I. Sharing Experiences & Successes
Australian and Dutch organisations - both public and private - cooperate in many areas of the water sector. While the nature and objectives of their activities are very diverse, they increasingly recognise the importance of sharing expertise and best-practices across the whole water-cycle. The Water Challenge creates regular opportunities for parties to meet, establish new business connections and highlight opportunities for cooperation. In addition, it serves both countries well to present a strong and unified “brand” for their water sectors to gain more visibility for their joint capabilities.
II. Attracting & Educating Young Talent
For Australia and the Netherlands to deal successfully with the many water-related challenges they face in the coming years, there is a critical dependency on young talent. As it is, both countries are confronted with growing shortages of water professionals. Here lies a joint interest of both the public and private sectors of Australia and the Netherlands to invest in talent development. Bringing out the very best the Australian and Dutch water sectors have to offer, the Water Challenge seeks to inspire young talent in both countries to take an active part in finding innovative solutions for sustainable water management.
About the Challenge
The Australia-Netherlands Water Challenge is a competition for Australian graduate students and young researchers who aspire to pursue an education and career in the water sector. Their assignment is to write and present a paper that addresses real-life water challenges that are connected to the areas of collaboration between Australia and the Netherlands. Students may choose from a number of case-studies describing these challenges, as provided by the participating companies/organisations. Throughout the competition, students will be supported by professional experts through the dedicated online platform (BlueSpring). The submissions are judged by a panel of experts.
The Program
I. Official Announcement by the Dutch Ambassador at Ozwater on 9 May 2012 - see report & pictures here.
II. Campus promotion campaign in July/August
III. Competition & Selection (through BlueSpring platform)
IV. Grand Final in October at the International River Symposium in Melbourne.
More details about the campus promotion schedule and case-studies will be announced soon. Interested students may already register their profile- see under Registration in the main menu.
For inquiries, please email to info@hollandwaterchallenge.nl.
