The second cohort of the International Joint Masters in Water Security and Global Change recently visited UNU Resource Nexus in Dresden. The International Joint Masters is an initiative of the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Center, that connects Aachen, Bangkok, Chennai and Dresden, in short: ABCD Centre.
The Centre is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and connects research, teaching and knowledge transfer across these locations, creating opportunities for students to engage with diverse perspectives on some of the most pressing water and climate challenges.
At UNU Resource Nexus, the students were introduced to the United Nations system, the United Nations University and the benefits of managing environmental resources from a holistic Resource Nexus perspective. They participated in a dedicated study visit programme under the umbrella of the Knowledge Academy for the Resource Nexus (KARE), designed to complement their academic studies with practical skills and applied learning in a hands-on format. The programme included workshops on Scenario Planning Extreme, facilitation and advocacy, and they had the opportunity to learn about water issues in Lusatia, the post-mining region, where the institute’s has an office in Weisswasser.
For Rohan Dinesh Horabyle, a student from India, the practical nature of the programme was a particular highlight. “It was really engaging.”
UNU Resource Nexus Head of Education and Capacity Development, Prof. Serena Coetzee, notes that “Such a study visit offers students the unique opportunity to learn about the Resource Nexus, engage with the UN system and experience how knowledge is applied in real-world contexts. Equally important, we expose them to practical tools and approaches that they can apply throughout their professional careers.”
Following their time in Dresden, the students will travel to Aachen, Germany, where they will complete the next semester of their Masters journey at RWTH Aachen.
