HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and KWR water research institute strengthen collaboration with special lecturer

In the coming years, many people in the water sector will retire, so new employees are urgently needed. In order to interest more young people in the water sector, HU and KWR are developing an education and research program around practice-oriented water issues, including a water technology minor.

Practice-oriented education and research

During the minor, students will work with HU lecturer-researchers and KWR staff on practical research issues introduced by KWR, such as new demonstration setups for purifying water and measuring water quality using innovative screening methods. They do this under the direction of the special lecturer and are supervised by HU lecturer-researchers and KWR staff.

Building on ongoing collaboration

The cooperation builds on an ongoing collaboration between HU and KWR. In fact, since January 2023, Roberta Hofman-Caris has already been seconded to the HU from KWR.

Accelerated solution to water challenges

Wilma Scholte op Reimer, President of the Executive Board at HU, emphasizes the importance of the collaboration: “I am very pleased to further perpetuate our collaboration with a proposed special lecturer on the subject of water. I am convinced that we can accelerate the realization of innovative solutions to challenging water challenges, such as sufficient clean water; by having our inquisitive students collaborate with experienced researchers from KWR and using our passionate researchers and facilities.”

Future in the here and now

Mariëlle van der Zouwen, director of KWR, is also enthusiastic: “At HU and KWR we share a love of practice and the development of people. We have noticed this in the past two years of collaboration. I look forward to joint research to further bring to life the values of water for people and the environment. The students of the HU connect the here and now to the future: they are the ones who also work on a healthy and sustainable society after 2050. By joining forces, we are bringing time to us and already building a water wise future.”

About the HU and KWR

HU trains young professionals for the jobs of the future and works with students, teachers, hands-on researchers and the field on mission-driven issues. Here the focus is on creating an inclusive, sustainable and healthy living environment, with special attention to water, food, sports and exercise. An important ambition is to contribute to circular drinking water, dealing with shortages and surpluses of rainwater and combating heat stress in the context of climate adaptation. By creating rich learning environments, we train the professionals of the future and contribute to an inclusive, sustainable and healthy living environment.

Water research institute KWR in Nieuwegein contributes to a water wise society through applied scientific research. In a thriving society, water has a key role. It connects sectors such as energy, food supply, nature and health and is an important starting point for sustainable solutions. With contemporary water expertise, the institute builds on a solid knowledge base of more than fifty years of (drinking) water science. Under the motto “bridging science to practice,” KWR professionals work together with stakeholders from the water world, government, industry, agriculture, nature management, research and society. In this they focus on the themes: water quality & health, freshwater availability, public design for water, resource reuse & circular systems, the balance between water supply and demand in the water chain, nature-inclusive water management & biodiversity, energy transition and digital water.

In the coming months, both organizations will draw up concrete action plans to further shape the cooperation and start joint projects.