ACEWM Engages Stakeholders to Strengthen Revised MSc Programmes in Water Management
Addis Ababa, October 20, 2026 — The Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) at Addis Ababa University (AAU) conducted a Stakeholder Validation Workshop on its revised Master of Science (MSc) programmes as part of the CTIL-2026 Curriculum Review initiative. The workshop brought together academic reviewers, programme coordinators, and relevant stakeholders to review the curricula and provide recommendations for strengthening postgraduate education in water management.
The workshop opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Teshome Senbeta, Vice Executive Dean for Academic Programs. Prof. Sembeta also made a presentation on the College’s priorities and the context of the CTIL-2026 curriculum review. Prof. Feleke Zewge, Director of ACEWM on his part presented an overview of the revised curricula, highlighting the major changes, strategic decisions, and intended outcomes of the four MSc programmes.
The technical sessions focused on reviewing four programmes: Water Management (WaMa); Water and Wastewater Technology (WaWT); Aquatic Resources Management and Ecohydrology (ARME); and Water, Sanitation and Health (WaSH). Participants engaged in programme-specific discussions, examined course content, reviewed feedback, and identified areas for improvement. The sessions also addressed programme-specific priorities, including water governance and industry perspectives, with the aim of ensuring that the curricula remain relevant to academic developments and professional demands in the water sector.
In addition to the programme reviews, participants examined cross-cutting themes critical to graduate development and employability. These included artificial intelligence and digital competencies, soft skills and leadership, and industry engagement. Discussions explored the integration of digital tools into teaching and learning, faculty capacity development, partnership opportunities, leadership skills assessment, internships, and ways to strengthen collaboration between the University and industry.
The workshop’s plenary session brought together the findings and recommendations from the four programme review groups and the discussions on cross-cutting themes. The presentations provided a platform to identify programme strengths, critical gaps, priority recommendations, and potential partnership opportunities. The closing session focused on consolidating recommendations, establishing responsibilities and timelines, and outlining the process for incorporating stakeholder feedback into the revised curricula before proceeding with University approval.
During the closing session, Prof. Feleke Zewge, Director of ACEWM, emphasized the importance of stakeholder contributions to the curriculum review process, stating that all comments and recommendations received during the workshop would be used to further strengthen the curricula. He underscored the value of incorporating stakeholder feedback to improve the quality and relevance of the revised MSc programmes.
The stakeholder validation workshop represents an important step in ACEWM’s efforts to strengthen the quality and relevance of its postgraduate programmes. By engaging stakeholders in curriculum review and incorporating perspectives on emerging technologies, professional competencies, and industry needs, the Center continues to advance its commitment to producing skilled graduates who can contribute to sustainable water management and development in Ethiopia and beyond.