Dubai: The shortage of adequate water experts in this region as the global value of water becomes increasingly evident was highlighted by Scottish experts and academics in Dubai.
The Heriot-Watt University (HW) Dubai campus aims to tackle this dearth, however, with a recent offering of a Master of Science (MSc) in water resources. The programme commenced last September, but was officially launched on campus this week by a Scottish Government and HW delegation.
"In this whole region the biggest concern now is the lack of fresh water," said Professor Ammar KaKa, Head of the Dubai Campus. "What we are trying to do with this degree is equip the human assets here, such as engineers, to deal with the issues of water conservation and climate change."
Although three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered in water only two percent of it is fresh and fit for human consumption. However, such issues do not seem to concern students in the UAE as the HW Dubai campus has only managed to recruit six students onto the MSc programme.
"We are hoping to see an increase with coming intakes where we get to a point of recruiting 30 students each intake," said Prof KaKa.
At a cost of Dh62,000 students can read for the postgraduate degree either part-time, fulltime or through distance learning.
Professor Gareth Pender, Head of the School of Build Environment at HW in Edinburgh said the programme is suitable for undergraduates of civil engineering, earth sciences or other disciplines such as mathematics or geography.
He added with one-eight of the world's population denied access to clean water and sanitation; over two million people die from water related diseases every year.
"In 2007 there were 200 major floods worldwide affecting 180 million people but over the course of the last 2 years we've seen major floods in Australia; Brazil; China; Pakistan and the US," he said. "So there are significant water management problems that need to be addressed world wide."
Such an urgent need for worldwide water management experts creates unique and rewarding career prospects for relevant graduates in the UAE and the region.
"Government authorities here in the UAE and globally are looking to recruit these expertise," Richard Lochhead, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural and Environmental Affairs told Gulf News. "In terms of career opportunities for graduates I think it is very much an up and coming area."
He added with Scotland's abundant water resources of seas and rivers it is well experienced in water management.
"Because we are in the front line of dealing with water related issues, we can share our expertise with other countries in terms of academia and practicality," he said.
Professor Pender compared Scotland's annual rainfall of approximately 4,500 millimetres to the UAE's annual rainfall of 120 millimetres to illustrate Scotland's and hence, HW's, expertise in dealing with water.
"This means we have the expertise to not only address flood risk management but also apply these skills to water shortages, water supply and water treatment issues as well," which are all severe challenges facing the GCC's arid desert environments.
