Water Science and Technology

Access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation, including toilets, waste water treatment and recycling, affects a country’s developmental progress in terms of human health, education and gender equality. The provision of sustainable drinking water and sanitation are inadequate across many parts of Africa and, where available, water supply and sanitation services are differentiated according to urban, rural or informal settlements. Provision of potable water varies amongst urban, rural and peri-urban dwellers. The middle- and upper-class urban dwellers receive water from major rivers, dams and deep well sources. Most of Africa’s rural and peri-urban water-needy depend on smaller tributaries and catchments and seasonal rivers.

Inadequate access to safe water and improved sanitation is one of the most important preventable causes of disease burden in children living in low-income countries. Although access to safe water and improved sanitation has improved significantly for many countries in recent years, sub-Saharan Africa still lags behind the rest of the world on access to both drinking water and sanitation. Although many financial resources have been directed at improving the situation, this has not always resulted in an increased use of facilities, let alone improvements to public health. There is, therefore, a strong and clear need for good quality teaching and research into the most effective approaches for reducing the disease burden in Africa from unsafe water and inadequate sanitation.

To overcome these barriers, having teaching and research in Africa led by African institutions is a first but powerful step. African-based research groups would be better able to identify areas and topics for research that fulfill the needs of local communities through community engagement research and social activities.

Program Objectives

The principal objective of this PhD Program is to offer a comprehensive understanding of water resources and hydrological processes, water science and technology, and management of aquatic ecosystems and services. The Program aims to produce graduates with sound knowledge and skill in water management, as well as in leading the scientific endeavor required to understand and model hydrological processes and water resources systems, water quality, water and wastewater treatment processes, and water supply and sanitation system planning and management.

Intended Learning Outcomes of The Program

Knowledge

 By the end of the program, students will:

• Understand the principles, concepts and tools of water management in the respective specializations;
• Have a broad, multi‐disciplinary foundation in water science, technology and management;
• Understand key inter‐ disciplinary issues in water management;
• Have formed associations with a substantial number of students in other disciplines.

Skills

By the end of the program, students will:

• Be able to effectively apply their disciplinary knowledge in a multi‐ or, inter‐disciplinary setting;
• Effectively communicate project analyses and results to classmates and faculty;
• Be able to develop new interdisciplinary knowledge.

Values

By the end of the collaborative program, students will:

• Be able to work cooperatively with experts in water management;
• Understand the importance of multi‐, inter‐ or trans‐disciplinary approaches in the water sector;
• Be able to identify the role of their discipline expertise in multi‐ or interdisciplinary problem solving.

Admission Requirement

• Applicants must have MSc degree in environmental engineering, water resources engineering, water supply engineering, water supply and sanitation, wastewater engineering, water quality management, environmental chemistry or other related fields from a recognized

• Applicants will be required to take and successfully pass an entrance
• Applicants must meet the general admission policies of the
• An outstanding MSc. candidate if recommended can be admitted to the PhD program