Why study Water Management?

It is clear that water management is vitally important, given that water is at the heart of many of the world's most pressing challenges. Given this complexity, there is an increasing demand for skilled professionals who can develop sustainable solutions, improve water governance and service delivery, and support the long-term management of water resources.

Whether the focus is on water resources, catchment management, water supply and sanitation, urban water systems, ecosystem health, climate resilience, community development, or water governance, Water Management equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and address complex water challenges while contributing to water security,

sustainable development, and the effective management of water resources and services. Studying Water Management therefore provides an opportunity to develop the knowledge, practical skills, and leadership capabilities needed to address real-world water challenges.

Where to study Water Management?

Emeris is committed to developing the next generation of water leaders—professionals with the knowledge, skills, and capacity to address complex water challenges and implement sustainable solutions that have meaningful impacts on communities, economies, and the environment. As part of this, the Institution offers two specialised qualifications designed to equip professionals with the knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities needed to address complex water challenges through interdisciplinary and practical approaches to water management:

The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Water Management is a two-year qualification designed to deepen professionals’ interdisciplinary skills and knowledge of water resource management. The programme combines scientific, technical, environmental, and management perspectives, covering key areas such as project management for water managers, collaborative water planning, urban water design, water and sanitation, catchment and aquatic ecosystem health, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and water resource mapping, community water development, and climate change and water resources.

The IIE Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management is a coursework qualification designed for professionals, researchers, and aspiring leaders seeking to develop advanced expertise in integrated water management. It is one of a few local (or international) degrees which takes an integrated approach to teaching and learning about water management, encouraging students to explore the relationship between societal development, human wellbeing and hydrological systems. It also centres research as an important component of this learning experience and is intentionally designed to cater for a small group of students to ensure quality supervision and mentorship, through regular interaction with local and regional water experts.

Who should study Water Management in South Africa?

Both the IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Water Management and the IIE The Master of Philosophy in Integrated water management are tailored for water management professionals in South and the broader Southern African region who are currently employed in lower to middle level management positions and those who are working in related technical fields. These includes river basin management, groundwater management, water supply and sanitation, water resource planning, water resource economics and water treatment.

In particular, the IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Water Management caters to practitioners in the water sector who wish to strengthen both their technical skills and leadership abilities, enabling them to address complex water challenges in varied social, environmental, and economic contexts and building their breadth of understanding of the water management as a whole. It also provides opportunities for individuals aiming to transition into water-related fields.

The IIE Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management has a greater focus on developing depth of knowledge through the integration of research and is designed for professionals, researchers, and aspiring leaders seeking to address the multifaceted challenges of water management in South and Southern Africa, as well as in broader international contexts. The programme is aimed at professionals already working within the water field that want to advance their career significantly and become water leaders of the future, committed to contributing to water security and sustainability through interdisciplinary research and practice.