REFERENCE: 553633-EPP-1-2014-1-NL-EPPKA1-JMD-MOB_G-watCHTITLE: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme in Groundwater and Global Change – Impacts and Adaptation, GROUNDWATCHObjectiveThe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme in Groundwater and Global Change – Impacts and Adaptation (GROUNDWATCH) aims to address the current gaps in higher education with regard to the understanding of the interactions between groundwater, surface water, climate and global change, and how we need to consider and can benefit from these interactions when dealing with adaptation.Course durationTwo years (120 ECTS credits).Brief descriptionAs the largest liquid freshwater reservoir on earth, groundwater has both a huge environmental and economic value and will be an essential resource for adaptation to climate change and reduction of socio-economic vulnerability, particularly in regions where freshwater availability is scarce. Several factors foster the need for a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary educational groundwater programme. First, groundwater is a component of the water cycle interacting with all other components at various temporal and spatial scales. Second, groundwater systems are largely interdependent with socio-economic development. Third, climate change is foreseen to affect freshwater availability globally, with the Mediterranean considered as a hotspot. Fourth, important feedback mechanisms exist between groundwater (and its use), climate and global change, which vary in time and space. Innovation and excellence in GroundwatCH is stimulated by the collaboration between three European HEIs, namely through: i) the environmental engineering perspective provided by IST Lisbon (Portugal), as well as the know-how of the CVRM Research Centre in semi-arid hydrogeology; ii) the international experience of UNESCO-IHE (the Netherlands) in hydro(geo)logical research, education and capacity building in many countries across the globe; iii) the renowned expertise in climate and hydrology from TU Dresden (Germany) with its well-matched combination of engineering, geo and natural sciences. The programme seeks to offer a distinctive curriculum built on the cornerstones of hydro(geo)logy, climatology, impacts and adaptation, within a framework of human pressures, global change and feedbacks, around the following academic focal areas: (1) General Hydrogeology; (2) Groundwater Data Collection, Interpretation and Modelling; (3) Climate Processes and Modelling; (4) Integrated River Basin and Water Resource Management; (5) Groundwater and Environmental Impacts; (6) Groundwater, Society and Policies; and (7) Groundwater, Climate and Global Change Impacts and Adaptation.Career prospectsIn terms of employment prospects, students can envisage working in academy, in a governmental body, in NGOs or even in private and consultancy companies, which are more and more interested in the need for freshwater availability and the study of freshwater and climate global change interactions. There is a job market for students coming out of this course.An international experienceGroundwatCH will provide outstanding opportunities to deepen cooperation between full partner HEIs and associated partners. Several universities participate to the programme through course dissemination and promotion, lecturing and hosting of master students for thesis research in order to ensure an international experience. Over 15 non-academic partners from all over the world are also associated to the programme. Their participation is essential for course development, optimizing learning outcomes, employability and integration of relevant research results. All the courses are held in English.DiplomaThe students who fulfil the requirements for the master's degree receive a multiple master diploma from University of London, UNESCO-IHE and TU Dresden.Websitehttp://www.groundwatermaster.eu/