Capacity Development

Background

Sustainably building and expanding the water sector does not only require solutions based on suitably customized technologies, but also adequate transfer of the knowledge relevant to the utilization of the technology. In this regard, it is decisive that knowledge transfer cannot be regarded as a uni-directional process, because through preparation, execution, and post-processing of the transfer a bi-directional exchange of knowledge between source and target is required (Gresse, 2010). Gerybadze (2003) summarizes the resulting changes as follows: “Knowledge is distributed between groups of agents with diverse cultures and identities, with often incompatible value systems, who may interpret and respond to the same type of information quite differently. In most studies on knowledge management, we tend to overemphasize the rational, objective and content aspects of information, and we underestimate the interpretive, social and subjective aspects and the social process of knowledge sharing.”

Objective

The R&D tasks are thus accompanied by diverse capacity development measures that, on an academic level (through exchange programs and summer schools) and a user level (through training courses and sensitization campaigns), shall guarantee comprehensive knowledge transfer between the partners of both countries and, by extension, the protection of water as a valuable resource and the improvement of living conditions.

Workshops and summer schools such as the above in Hanoi (Topic: Karst Water Management, 2015) are also carried out as part of the KaWaTech Solutions Project