Below is an overview of the work performed and the primary achievements observed in the initial reporting phase:
- A Data Management plan (D1.1) and a Quality Assurance plan(D1.3) were submitted.
- Ann online survey was conducted to determine the state-of-the-art concerning education, R&I, and current skills gap and skills mismatch on “Digital Water” from a multi-stakeholder perspective from all relevant sectors. The study reveals a notable disparity in the skills imparted by HEIs and those desired by various sectors. Skills such as creativity, innovation, and open-mindedness are highlighted as areas requiring more emphasis in the curriculum.
- Utilizing the quadruple helix approach desk research about local sectoral strategies and policies for delineating local strategies to foster innovations, business, and growth in the digital water sector for each one of the sites where WATERLINE is implemented with the support of all partners.
- One of the two community of practice workshops was held in partner HEIs to support in the development of a roadmap towards a shared common governance framework for the WATERLINE campus.
- A WATERLINE R&I capacity building plan (D2.4) was developed to enhance their R&I capabilities.
- A two-day face-to-face training on ‘personal and professional development skills’ was held at UNEXE, UK.
- A 5-day summer school for researchers was organized in Exeter to enhance innovation skills through a real ViLE walk-through at the VSimulators at UNEXE.
- MCAST, UNI, DEU-DESUM and MENDELU compiled a Game Design Document (GDD) template to serve a comprehensive blueprint and reference document for the development of each of the four ViLEs to be developed.
- The deliverable D5.1 “R&I Funding Landscape: opportunities for WATERLINE” was submitted.
- An online Sandpit Workshop was held to brainstorm, analyze, and identify the funding landscape for the short term (1 year) within the consortium.
- A 3-day Seminar on R&I Proposal Writing was held online by NMBU for academics/researchers.
Below is an overview of the work performed and the primary achievements observed in the second reporting phase:
- The WATERLINE consortium developed, through a multi-phase, co-creative process, the WATERLINE Common Governance Framework (D2.3).
- A Master’s Programme in Digital Water and Water Systems Management (EQF Level 7) was developed as a semester-based programme. The development process and framework are detailed in “Digital Water Curriculum Component” (D3.1).
- A 15-day “Research and Water Education Summer School”, a two-day virtual seminar on scientific paper writing, an e-learning LCA training, and a 24-hour online hackathon were organised to capacity build.
- 4 Virtual Reality Learning Environments (e.g. dam breaks, urban flooding) and 4 Assisted Reality ones were developed. Piloting of the VR applications found enhanced learning motivation and engagement, while demonstrating the importance of pedagogical integration, iterative design, and cross-institutional collaboration in advancing digital water education.
- UNEXE conducted expert visits to four partner Widening HEIs to strengthen technical capacity.
- Each HEI transforming their labs (MCAST, MENDELU, DEU-DESUM, and UNI) held face-to-face workshops for faculty and other departments to enhance extended reality teaching competencies.
- 2 sandpit workshops were conducted and deliverables D5.2 and D5.3 “R&I Funding Landscape: opportunities for WATERLINE – Part 2” and the "Part 3" were submitted.
- SITES developed the Policy Exploitation Guidelines (D5.4).
- The Ambassadors Network was established to expand the project’s impact.
