Why to study MSc in Water – Engineering track
semester 1:
This is a master’s level course on hydrological modelling designed to emphasize hydrological concepts while providing skills for using well-known hydrological models to simulate hydrological processes.
The course is intended for students with a background in hydrology, water resources, civil engineering, agricultural engineering and mechanical engineering to support a possible career as a water engineer and hydrologist. Yet, it is designed for Students can broaden and deepen their understanding of hydrological systems and processes. Consequently, it is designed to enhance the skills of students in the Master’s in Water Engineering programme to provide solutions in water resources planning, development and management. The course can be divided into three (3) parts: Part I deals with surface water modelling; Part II tackles basin models including groundwater modules, as well as the interactions between surface water and groundwater modelling; Part III addresses the selection and application of commonly used hydrological models to solve river basins challenges. This entails students identifying and selecting the appropriate hydrological model and applying it in their final projects.
The course introduces students to data acquisition, data quality control and modelling extreme weather conditions to address floods, flood warning systems and flood zones, and drought phenomenon. It integrates hydrological models and GIS systems to support hydrological applications. Students are exposed to the concept of climate change and variability and the impact on hydrological processes.
The course is quantitative in nature and requires a firm foundation in calculus, physics, statistics, hydrology at first degree level. Class sessions include a lecture on the primary subject with time to work on assigned exercises. A field work component to examine the processes and measurement techniques relevant to the lectures is included where feasible. Students are exposed to an overview of each subject, with recent theories, tools and techniques including state of the art statistical analyses. They will complete quantitative assignments to develop skills in problem solving and in synthesizing hydrological concepts.
Number of Credits 4
Few engineering skills are as useful as the ability to apply basic hydraulics to the solution of water and sanitation problems. The analysis of the flow and pressure distribution of flowing water and wastewater is critical to many fundamental engineering tasks, such as sizing pipes between tanks and taps, picking pumps, and assuring a good flow distribution in water or wastewater treatment works. This course is designed for those who wish to learn how to solve such problems and how to think practically about the flow of water in engineered systems. The course will cover both pressurized and open-channel flow, and will cover the hydraulics of pipes, pumps, networks and channels (Steady Flow in Closed Conduits, Unsteady Flow in Closed Conduits and Open Channel Flow)
The following topics will be covered:
Open Channel Flow: Kinds of open channel flow, channel geometry, types and regimes of flow, Velocity distribution in open channel, wide open channel, specific energy, critical flow and its computation, Energy in non-prismatic channel, momentum in open channel flow, specific force.
Closed Conduit Flow: Closed conduit flow or flow under pressure (pipelines/pumps), Darcy Weisbach and Hazen Williams head loss formulae, Design of water distribution systems Analysis, flow in a single pipe and in pipes connected in series and in parallel, transient flow in pipes (Water Hammer)…
Number of Credits 6
Water is a prime natural resource. Acknowledging the vital importance of this scarce resource for human and animal life, as well as for maintaining ecological balance (and ecosystem function) for economic and developmental activities is a matter of utmost concern. Most countries in the MENA region suffer from water scarcity and limited renewable water resources to meet water demands. Climate change and land use dynamics are expected to exacerbate scarcity by creating or even deepening water supply-demand gaps. Water pollution with organic and inorganic contaminants, arising from sewage, agriculture as well as industrial sources has an adverse impact on the environment and human health. Risks of drinking polluted water include diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and parasitic worm. Therefore, an ever-increasing level of attention has been directed to protecting the quality of water resources from a wide variety of point and non-point sources of pollution. Drinking and irrigation water quality are especially scrutinized in accordance with standards of drinking water criteria.
Number of Credits 4
This course offers practical training in methodologies relevant to the field of engineering. The course begins with an exploration of issues of general relevance to empirical investigation in sciences, research design, research ethics and an overview of research methods. The second part of the course offers students the opportunity to focus on qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Number of Credits 4
This course aims to provide students with a solid foundation on Africa’s historical experiences and realities. It surveys how African social and political institutions have developed over Africa’s greatly varied geography in the light of economic and environmental change over the last few millennia. Furthermore, it covers issues related to colonialism, nationalism, African states and the African identity. Finally, it equips students with a generic base of skills for the general study of history.
Number of Credits 4
NA
Number of Credits 5
This is an introductory course in freehand sketching and computer-aided design (CAD). As a starting point, students will be taught basic CAD commands, tools, multi-view drawing and dimensioning techniques. To successfully complete this course, students develop comprehensive knowledge on the use of CAD and skills required to design components of water systems. Course material includes an introduction to CAD tools and their applications to water management and hydraulic systems design
Number of Credits 1
Entrepreneurship is often regarded purely as business management, resulting in entrepreneurship education content that primarily focuses on developing business management skills.
This approach limits the development of entrepreneurial potential in other sectors such as government and civil society and effectively excludes other disciplines from acquiring much needed 21st century skills. This course regards entrepreneurship as a transversal process and covers content that encourages students to be entrepreneurial – a combination of skills and mindset that unlock particular attitudes and behaviours. These include having a growth mindset (versus a fixed mindset), having a hunger for lifelong learning and applying critical thinking skills to problem solving. The course equips students with the knowledge of how to spot opportunities and generate ideas, learning in part from African cases.
The unprecedented rate of change and complexity in society requires entrepreneurial thinkers that are constantly learning, therefore, instilling a habit of lifelong learning is crucial. Critical thinking, one of the essential 21st century skills according to the World Economic Forum, promotes understanding and more effective discussions; it provides students with the ability to identify problems and equips them with the concepts and vocabulary to explain errors or poor logic. Critical thinking is therefore key to problem solving and one of the sources for effective idea generation. Business management generally relies heavily on information to make informed decisions, but in the quest to be intra- or entrepreneurial, information alone is not sufficient. The ability to spot opportunities and generate ideas from information to fulfil a need, is what makes entrepreneurial students more valuable. This course therefore aims to prepare students with problem solving skills (finding solutions to urgent challenges), critical thinking skills (thinking clearly, rationally and systematically), opportunity spotting skills (seeing the unseen and generating value from that) and idea generation skills.
All of the above requires practice and time to develop and so this course aims to ignite interest and perhaps unlock a hunger for becoming entrepreneurial. It also aims to start equipping students to be habitual critical thinkers, problem solvers, opportunity spotters and idea generators by teaching basic tools and techniques to achieve these objectives.
Number of Credits 2
semester 2:
semester 3:
Internships are an integral part of the degree, students will obtain at PAUWES.
PAUWES internship program is an important vehicle to advance students skills and professionalism towards achieving their desired future career.
It consists of two internships :
Summer (also called career) Internship
Students do it during their summer break (at the end of the first-year master), during the Summer Internship students can test and apply the skills they acquired during their studies in a real-life situation and tailor these to the specific field they have chosen. This experience will help them to narrow down their job preferences and define their professional profile. We strongly encourage students to reach companies and do their summer internship
Research Internship (also called data collection Internship)
Students do it at the beginning of their Master Thesis (MT) in the fourth semester. The Research Internship will allow students to collect data on-site for their MT (find case studies, conduct interviews, take measurements or perform experiments, etc.). It provides students with the opportunity to get to know their research subject personally or allows them to work directly with their supervisor at his/her workplace. PAUWES internship program provides various channels for support.
Career Prospects of PAUWES Graduates
PAUWES curricula aims to equip future graduates with knowledge, skills and attitudes that allow them to be competitive in both the employment market and in academia if they choose to pursue doctoral studies. Owing to their methodical approach and their governments’ clear vision and policy, developed countries have a strong demand for graduates with profiles similar to the ones produced by PAUWES. The job market for such profiles has long been limited in Africa. However, there is an increasing number of employment opportunities as a consequence of the boom in start-up companies and foreign direct investments witnessed in the past decade across Africa.
Some examples of positions that can be filled by PAUWES graduates in energy, water and policy.
Energy Engineering:
- Energy Systems Engineer
- Project Manager
- Green Building Designer
- Green Building Project Manager
- Account Executive / Manager
- Energy Analyst
- Energy Efficiency Analyst
- Power Engineer
- Research Engineer
Water Engineering:
- Hydraulics Engineer
- Water / Wastewater Engineer
- Water Resources Engineer
- Project Manager
- Water Treatment Engineer
- Research Engineer
Energy Policy & Water Policy:
- Energy/Water Policy Analyst
- Energy/Water Consultant
- Project Coordinator
- Technical Writer
- Research Analyst
Testimonials
T1: Theobald from Rwanda, MSc Water Policy: "The teachers at PAUWES are well-
qualified, and they communicate the course content through different activities like group
discussions. Moreover, our research skills are being developed and we get a good
understanding of the concepts of our field of studies which helps us to develop our career as
future policy makers. I also appreciate the different extra-curricular activities we participate
in: visits of the beautiful areas and historical features of Algeria, conferences, various clubs
and games and the different religion services. These help us to acquire different skills and get
to know the cultures of the comrades from different African nations.”
T2 : “PAUWES gave me the chance to discover the mentality of different students who come
from each part of Africa. With PAUWES, I am able to travel around all Africa to discover this
magic continent. It offers the opportunity to get real professional experience, which opens
different networks for our future. I had many professors from different countries, which
allowed me to develop my knowledge. Come to Algeria – believe me, you’ll never feel that
you are far from home. It’ll be your new family.”