Periodic Reporting for period 2 - WATERLINE (TRANSFORMING ADVANCED WATER SKILLING THROUGH THE CREATION OF A NETWORK OF EXTENDED-REALITY WATER EMULATIVE CENTRES)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-01-01 do 2025-09-30
WATERLINE aimed to create a European Digital Water Higher Education Institution (HEI) Alliance, based on the quadruple helix model of innovation, leading to the development of the Alliance’s research, educational and entrepreneurship capacities. To achieve this, WATERLINE had five specific objectives: (1) support consolidation of the Alliance by co-creating a common governance framework, and a Research & Innovation (R&I) capacity building plan; (2) co-create a portfolio of water components for Master level (EQF Level 7) and transform emulative laboratories in partner Widening HEIs into assisted and virtual reality. These structural changes will lead to transformed and more competitive R&I HEIs; (3) strengthen WATERLINE researchers’ R&I capacity excellence by implementing activities, such as summer schools to enhance education and R&I skills, and proposal writing workshop; (4) build a European network of academics/researchers who, together with quadruple helix actors, will allow knowledge flow in water domains and extended reality technologies; (5) sustain the alliance by, (i) establishing ambassador networks, (ii) identifying the R&I funding landscape, thus increasing participation in HE and the mobilisation of resources in the water sphere, and (iii) creating synergies with EU initiatives, institutions, other projects and networks.
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.
- 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.
WATERLINE's digital water HEI alliance goes beyond the current state of the art by fostering collaboration among academic, research, and water industry experts. This initiative aimed to enhance competencies in research, innovation, education, and entrepreneurship, creating a dynamic environment for academic and research professionals. A key innovation is the transformation of emulated laboratories in Widening HEIs into assisted and virtual reality Learning Environments, coupled with a technology transfer framework. These advancements not only boost innovation but also facilitate knowledge and technology exchange among WATERLINE partners.