Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aim of this module is to explore and analyse the multiple issues and challenges involved in the practice of integrated river basin management in an international context. The module will focus on the global challenges to water management as defined by the Sustainable Development Goals and the way in which large river basins are organised worldwide. Introductory lectures will present the concepts of sustainability and integrated river basin management. Further lectures will explore the international dimension of key drivers in water management with an emphasis on the interaction with Sustainable Development Goals. Key drivers include water resources, flooding, climate change, pollution, health, socio-economic context, values and governance. The students will analyse how these different factors interplay in four case study rivers linked to the UKRI Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub. The Hub brings together an international team to address threats to water security and contribute towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6. Drawing upon the Contributors’ knowledge and direct involvement, as well as material developed by international experts in the Hub, students will be challenged to critically review the four river basins: Upper Cauca, Colombia; Johor, Malaysia; Upper Awash, Ethiopia and Upper Yamuna, India, all of which have different water security challenges and socio-political contexts that is covered in the syllabus and produce their own plan for one of the rivers.

Outline Of Syllabus

Introduction to the Module

Water and Sustainability

River Basin Management

Understanding catchment hydrology

Flooding challenges

Climate change challenges

Water quality

Sanitation

Water and health

Citizen science

Understanding the value of water systems

Water Governance

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

•Understand and describe major issues and challenges in international river basin management.
•Explain and practice key elements of a systems approach to water security and integrated river basin management. (M2)
•Assess and implement the multiple technical and social factors to be taken into account in integrated river basin management. (M7)
•Incorporate key objectives of economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability in designing solutions for water security challenges. (M5)
•Evaluate different stakeholders and elicit an understanding of their different value systems in water security and integrated river basin management. (M4, M5)
•Analyse the key challenges in the integration of the multiple drivers affecting river basin management and the political character of water governance. (M2)

Intended Skill Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module, students will be able to demonstrate the following sets of skills:

Problem solving skills (e.g., use professional judgement to select the most important aspects of the problem)

Analytical skills (e.g., Producing a well-researched, well-structured, critical analysis of a contemporary water management challenge. (M16))

Research skills (e.g., Public presentation of complex analysis and key findings. (M17), Engagement in teamwork (M16), Working to deadlines, reporting on time and focused delivery. (M17)

Critical thinking skills (e.g. development of plans of action understanding priorities, desirability and feasibility of proposed changes (M16).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

With the accelerating growth in population and economic development around the world, and the developing food crisis, the pressures on river basins and their water resources are becoming unsustainable. The need for an integrated, sustainable approach to river basin management has never been more pressing. Students gain the required wide base of technical and socio-economic knowledge through lectures and computer practicals, and guest speakers from industry reinforce the learning experience. Most importantly, students are also given the opportunity to put this knowledge into action through the group coursework in which they are required to assess the current states of a number of stressed international river basins, and to come up with an agenda for sustainable river basin management in each. They are thus well prepared to tackle such challenging problems in the real world after they leave.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The development of material and delivery of the oral presentation allows the students to develop and practise a range of transferable skills including group working, collective analysis and debate and presentation skills. (M16, M17, M2, M4, M5, M7). Peer learning is embedded in the format of each group focusses on different regions.

The individual written report is needed to assess the student’s individual understanding. (M2, M4, M5, M7)

General Notes

N/A