Erasmus Mundus Integrated Master in Hydro-InfoGrapHics for Mediterranean and arid environments

ended

The Erasmus Mundus Integrated Master’s in Hydro-InfoGrapHics for Mediterranean and arid environments (HIGH-Med) will implement the preparatory activities to submit a full proposal on a new, highly integrated transnational Master’s programme on innovative water management. HIGH-Med has an international character with partners form 6 countries; 4 universities from programme countries (Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Netherlands) along with 3 universities from partner countries (Jordan 1, Palestine 2). This international consortium aspires to attract high caliber students, foster knowledge exchange & study visits in different countries (at least 1 partner & 1 programme country). The intended project timely responds to the water scarcity crisis in these regions with climate change impacts further exacerbating pressures on water quantity & quality. In arid regions, rain scarcity can trigger droughts affecting the availability & quality of surface & ground water, essential to sustain ecosystems & human activities. Sustainable water management should therefore be enhanced in these regions by training future water managers in new innovative methods & technologies. Hence, this project will focus on hydro-informatics, hydro-infographics & advanced risk assessment models to analyze accurately large datasets required for sustainable water management & to communicate this information effectively to decision makers. It will also focus on novel multi-hazard risk assessment tools for climate change assessment, new environmentally-friendly approaches (ecosystem-based approaches, nature-based solutions) & sensitive ecosystems (deltas, wetlands). Another ambition is to establish collaboration between university & public/private organizations dealing with water. Currently there are few MUNDUS programme focusing on water, but this is the first to focus on Mediterranean and arid environments that will train professionals in innovative sustainable water management approaches and technologies.