Aquamatics - Interdisciplinary Management of Water Environments Programme code: W2-S2AQA24.2024

The interdisciplinary study “Aqamatics - interdisciplinary management of the water environment” in English, with the possibility of obtaining a double diploma from both the University of Silesia and Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, is a response to the needs of the labor market for graduates with knowledge and competence in the broad field of water environment management. Water is an important element of the environment that significantly influences the functioning of ecosystems and societies. Increasing problems with access to good quality water resources require rational water management, based on knowledge, in accordance with principles of sustainable development. Skillful care for water and aquatic environments will help mitigate the expected effects of climate change. Water is a basic element of ecosystems, a raw material for direct consumption and industrial use. Important challenges the society must face in the era of climate change include: introducing the principles of rational management of water resources; rational management of water-related environments; protection of aquatic habitats; creating human friendly inner-city water ecosystems, i.e. blue-green infrastructure. Such activities require highly qualified staff who can deal with these problems. Managing water resources and water-related ecosystems requires comprehensive knowledge in the field of exact and natural sciences, social sciences and engineering and technical sciences. Such qualifications should include: the basics of mathematics, physics, chemistry, as well as the basics of meteorology and climatology, hydrology, hydrobiology and hydrogeology, to the extent that allows the use of this knowledge to manage aquatic environments. The currently observed shortage of specialists ready to take on the challenges related to water management confirms the need to prepare competent employees who will act as managers of water and water-related environments. Institutions responsible for managing water resources in Poland and Lithuania, water supply companies, water reservoir managers, local government administration units and non-governmental organizations point to a serious problem with recruiting new competent employees. An interdisciplinary study dierction called "Aquamatics - interdisciplinary management of aquatic environments" (Aquamatics) is the response to the reported problems. The aim of the studies is to educate competent water environment managers who will act as a member or leader of a task group in their workplaces, characterized by independent thinking and action, based on the primacy of knowledge over emotions. Education in this field will be based on the following principles: 1. mutual complementation of scientific fields in solving problems, 2. teaching students through direct involvement in practical activities and scientific research, 3. creating joint research teams between students and research staff. The study program will be conducted in English at both the University of Silesia and Kaunas University. In the second semester, students beginning their studies in Kaunas will attend classes offered by specialists in Katowice, while in semester 3 all students will deepen their knowledge and competencies by completing learning outcomes at Kaunas University. An additional advantage is the optional modules offered, which will be taught by Italian specialists from the University of Trieste. The graduate will not only understand the problems of threats resulting from climate change and the related hydrological and hydrobiological changes, but will be prepared to look for solutions by determining the causes of environmental changes and rational assessment/prediction of the ecological/ecotoxicological effects of these changes. He/she will be able to propose effective solutions to remove/limit the effects of such activities through: inventory of surface water and groundwater as well as water-related environments; introducing effective methods of monitoring these areas, proposing and verifying the effectiveness of the corrective actions through the use of statistical and mathematical modeling methods, designing activities related to the protection and reclamation of aquatic environments, introducing modern, verified solutions related to the protection of water resources by designing small/large retention areas, creating urban areas of green and blue infrastructure and rational management of water resources, especially in the era of climate change. During the course, great emphasis will be placed on the ability to use basic IT tools allowing to operate in GIS and CAD environment, use databases, create maps and graphics illustrating aquatic issues. The student will also acquire the ability to analyze documents related to water management, such as: hydrotechnical designs, construction documentation, reports, expert opinions, decisions. He/she will be able to correctly evaluate the role of aquatic ecosystems, to recognize the most important species of plants and animals associated with aquatic environments and understand the relationships between them.

The condition for admission to the diploma examination is to achieve the learning outcomes provided for in the study program, to obtain a certificate of an appropriate level of language proficiency in a foreign language and to obtain positive grades for the diploma dissertation. The condition for graduation is to pass the diploma examination with at least a satisfactory result. A graduate receives a higher education diploma confirming obtaining the qualifications of the appropriate degree. Detailed rules of the diploma process and the requirements for the diploma thesis are set out in the Rules and Regulations of Studies at the University of Silesia and the diploma regulations.

not applicable

The direction is in line with three important goals of the Development Strategy of the University of Silesia in Katowice for 2020-2025 in the “Education” area. These are: Objective 1: Modification of the educational offer to link it more closely with research activities, taking into account the directions for the development of higher education as presented in the Agenda for the Modernization of Higher Education: Europe - A New Vision for Development to 2025; Goal 3: Individualization of education and project-problem-based education; Goal 4: Improving the quality of education, in particular through the dissemination of modern educational methods, using new technologies based on interactivity. Among other things, the direction will include project-based classes. The purpose of these classes will be to prepare students to solve research problems through interdisciplinary research groups prepared to carry out assigned tasks. The implementation of research projects will require the student to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of the subjects that form the core curriculum, and above this, it will enable the students to develop teamwork and project management skills, taking into account legal implications. The qualification criteria for the Aquamatics major equalize the opportunities and skills of students, who are graduates of undergraduate/engineering various related majors, graduates of both Polish and foreign Universities. The introduction of Aquamatics as a major will allow the implementation of the following indicators of the University Development Strategy in 2020-2025: 1. preparation of new majors, conducted in foreign languages in international cooperation. Establishment of the direction of aquamatics - interdisciplinary management of aquatic environments in English with the possibility of obtaining a double diploma . 2. increase the percentage of majors, including interdisciplinary majors or specializations closely related to research conducted at the University. 3. to increase the number of research teams that include students. 4. To obtain only positive grades in PKA program evaluations. 5. To include external experts in the teaching of those majors where there is a need. The direction of Aquamatics is in line with the Priority Research Areas (POB). These are: POB 1: Harmonious human development - concern for the protection of health and quality of life; by teaching students to apply modern environmental solutions in practice, including the restoration and management of natural environments to recreate human-friendly environments. POB 2: Modern materials and technologies and their socio-cultural implications; POB 3: Environmental and climate change with its attendant challenges; through student participation in projects using advanced environmental analysis tools such as mathematical modeling, state prediction systems, and introduction of principles of good environmental practices. POB 5: Investigating the fundamental properties of nature; through student participation in fundamental research carried out in research teams.