TRAINING T-SHAPED ENGINEERS FOR WATER RESOURCES UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION

Abstract

Expert manpower is the most important capacity needed to face crises. Qualitative and quantitative unsustainability of water resources and growing water scarcity has become one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges and has endangered the livability of parts of the country. Some experts consider the technocratic approach by the graduates of water engineering related fields as one of the factors influencing the formation and continuation of the water crisis in the country. In this article, the abilities that a water engineer must have to face today’s challenges are examined and the weaknesses of the existing educational system in the country in strengthening these abilities are examined. Based on the surveys, water engineering education programs in many leading universities in other countries have been modified to train T-shaped specialists. This type of specialists have deep knowledge in the specific field of water engineering and in other related technical fields, they have a limited level of information to work in teams with different specializations, as well as to understand the interrelationships between water, food, energy, environment and climate systems. Furthermore, T-shaped professionals have better understanding of nexus relationships between water, food, energy, environment, and climate systems and have been empowered for management and leadership. In this research, while explaining the knowledge components of the T-shaped professional personality, the way to design educational programs for the training of such engineers are explained. The findings of this research can be used for improvement of water engineering education programs in universities in Iran.

Keywords

• water engineering t-shaped specialist graduate studies multi-disciplinary education