Course summary

Our Water Management for Development (Distance Learning) MSc is designed to develop careers managing water supply and environmental sanitation infrastructure and services for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The programme supports the professionalisation of the sector through addressing issues relating to policy development, improving performance, institutional reform, change management, benchmarking services, and the financial viability of institutions. It equips participants with knowledge of the range of appropriate water and environmental sanitation technologies, along with the expertise and skills relevant to work in the management of water and environmental sanitation projects and programmes. In addition, it encourages a critical approach to the global principles, national and local practice for achieving sustainable water and environmental management for the public good. This programme is managed by the Water Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering whose programmes are well-established and held in high regard by practitioners and employers from international development and emergency sectors. Modules are taught by experts with considerable experience of working in low- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive resources are available on the online learning environment (LEARN) for each module, including study guidance, highly illustrated unit notes, additional reading materials, YouTube clips of laboratory procedures and experimental setups, and subject-specific references and texts. Key aims of the programme are to:

• provide the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to coordinate, plan, manage and monitor water and environmental sanitation services, with a focus on low and middle-income countries;

• support the professionalisation of the sector through policy development, performance improvement, institutional reform, change management, benchmarking services and aiming for financial viability;

• equip you with knowledge of the range of appropriate water and environmental sanitation technologies;

• encourage a critical approach to the global principles and local practice of sustainable water and environmental management for the public good;

• equip you with appropriate expertise and skills for relevant work in the management of water and environmental sanitation for low- and middle-income countries; and

• encourage critical analysis through an in-depth study of a specialist topic.