United Nations University Institute to be established in Maputo, Mozambique: 2nd Scoping Workshop paves the way

The United Nations University will establish an Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) in Maputo, Mozambique. The workshop in Maputo (24-25 October 2011) is paving the way for the formal establishment of the Institute. UNU-FLORES will have campuses (Twins) in Maputo/Mozambique and Dresden/Germany. High-ranking delegates will clarify the Institute´s scope and mission, work-plan and research priorities. The meeting will be hosted by Prof. Dr. Jakob Rhyner, Vice Rector in Europe of the United Nations University (UNU) in Bonn/Germany, Prof. Venâncio Massingue, honorable Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of Mozambique and Prof. Orlando Quilambo, Rector of the Eduardo Mondlane University (Maputo/Mozambique).

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Second UNU-FLORES scoping workshop to be held in Mozambique

From 24 to 25-th of October 2011,the 2nd International Scoping Workshop on the establishment of the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) Dresden and its envisaged Twin Institute in Mozambique will take place in Maputo, Mozambique .
                                          

Scientists from the African continent and all over the world, international representatives of UN-Water and other UNU Institutes worldwide, as well as delegates from the host countries Germany and Mozambique will continue to lead discussions on the Institute´s scope and mission, the workplan and research priorities. Prof. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector of UNU and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization, is also expected to attend the workshop.

The 1st ISW took place from 11 to 12 November 2010 in Dresden, Germany. Proceedings of the workshop are now available for download:

Proceedings

Background: UNU-FLORES 

UNU-FLORES will focus on sustainable management of environmental resources, such as water, soil and waste, and will be dedicated to research, postgraduate education and training of professionals to contribute to integrated management and capacity development for material flow and resources management. It aims to work very closely with other UNU Institutes as well as UN bodies working in the field of sustainability, as such resources are crucial factors of development and several UNU Institutes have substantial knowledge in different aspects of their management.

Download:

2ISW Stakeholder List    Workshop Programme      

Workshop Questionnaire   Workshop Concept Note

Proceedings of UNU-FLORES International Scoping Workshop published

The publication documents the state of the art concerning the establishment of the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) in Dresden and its envisaged Twin in Mozambique. It keeps up and manifests the momentum gained during the 1st International Scoping Workshop that took place in November 2010.

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UNU Rector and Expert Delegation Visit Mozambique to Discuss Twinning Strategy

Prof. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector of UNU: 

“Key to success of twinning initiative is the comprehension of partnership.”

A UNU delegation met with the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology (Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, MCT) and the Rector Magnificus of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) from 1 until 4 May 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique. Main topics of the meeting were the progress on the twinning initiative of UNU in Africa and the organization of a second international scoping workshop on the UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) to be held 24-25 October 2011.

During their stay, strategic meetings and fruitful working sessions were held, involving high-ranking stakeholders to discuss legal and general issues underlying the process of establishing a twin institute of the soon to be inaugurated UNU-FLORES in Dresden. This new institute will concentrate on integrated management of material fluxes and of resources with a special focus on water, soil and waste management with the perspective to address other geo- and energy resource flows as the institute develops. 

Major Outcomes:

• Legal status of the twin of UNU-FLORES as an entity of UNU was clarified
• Appointment of an establishment committee of the twin institute, as well as a scientific and organizing committee for the 2nd International Scoping Workshop
• Necessary items for feasibility report (list of study programmes and of partners in the region) identified
• Date for the 2nd International Scoping Workshop (24-25 October 2011) in Maputo was agreed
• Agreement on a general work plan towards the 2nd International Scoping Workshop and the establishment of the twin

UNU Twin Institute as Hub for Southern Africa

The Mozambican partners explained the challenges of science and technology development and of higher education in Mozambique, but also their vision for the future. The twin institute of UNU-FLORES is seen as opportunity to consolidate and strengthen the capacities of Mozambique and the region for research and teaching in the field of its research scope. Both MCT and UEM confirmed and stressed their commitment for the initiative. Several existing or recently established MSc programmes related to the topic of the twin were identified. It was proposed to compose a joint study programme with UNU-FLORES from suitable modules offered within these courses. Care will be taken to involve partners from neighbouring countries during the establishment process which starts now and will be finalized during the scoping workshop later this year. By so doing the role of the twin institute as a hub for Southern Africa and even beyond will be emphasized.

In the meetings present were the Honourable Minister Prof. Massingue, Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), H.E. Ambassador Dos Santos, the Rector of UNU, the Rector and Vice-Rector of UEM, as well as various further deans, directors and professors of UEM.

Background

UNU-FLORES is about to be established in Dresden, Germany, in cooperation with TU Dresden. It will be funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Fine Arts (SMWK).

In view of the twinning strategy of UNU, Mozambique was identified as a suitable host of a second campus of UNU-FLORES. Both the government of Mozambique and the leading university, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, confirmed their support and commitment for the initiative after the first international scoping workshop on UNU-FLORES held in November of 2010 in Dresden, Germany.

UNU-FLORES: Research and Teaching Cooperations Explored

On 15 March 2011, United Nations University (UNU) and the Dresden University of Technology (TUD) explored ways of cooperation in research and teaching for UNU-FLORES. The one-day meeting was a follow up to the first scoping workshop in November 2010. The meeting intended to

1.    Elaborate the research topics listed during the scoping workshop of November 2010

2.    Develop proposals for joint study programmes offered by TUD and UNU-FLORES

3.    Clarify legal and administrative issues

 

Workshop Summary

The research topics listed during the scoping workshop were found to be in line with the proposed structure of the institute. The Institute to be consisted out of five departments: Systems and Flux Analysis, Global Change, Water Management, Soil and Land use Management, Waste Management and Contaminated Sites. Responsibilities of research departments for overarching topics and the research topics covered by the Twin Institute in Mozambique will be further discussed at the occasion of the third workshop to take place in Maputo, Mozambique, later this year. The workshop resulted in a common understanding that all proposed research departments should focus jointly on research and teaching in accordance with the Humboldt-principle.

The successfully established MSc course at TUD on “Hydro Science and Engineering” (HSE) was identified as an excellent starting point for a joint degree programme. About 70 per cent of the offered modules are suitable for a joint Masters programme with UNU-FLORES. Additionally, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) were identified as obvious cooperation Partners. Beyond the joint Masters programme, also joint PhD programmes will be developed between UNU-FLORES and TUD due course.

Background

Since November 2010 significant progress was achieved. The most important milestones are:

• Creation of a working group responsible for the establishment of UNU-FLORES

• Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNU, TUD, the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), and the Saxon State Ministry for Science and the Fine Arts (SMWK)
• Finalization of the funding agreement between UNU, BMBF and SMWK
• Kick off premises search for UNU-FLORES in the historic City of Dresden provided by government of Saxonia.

UNU-FLORES: Cooperation Agreement Signed

Following the favourable decision of the Saxon State Cabinet on 16 November 2010, a four-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) was signed shortly after the First International Scoping Workshop took place.

Signing parties are UNU, the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Fine Arts (SMWK) and the Dresden University for Technology (TUD).       

The MoU will cement the obligations of the partners including the financial support to be provided by the BMBF and Saxony as well as in-kind support by Saxony and TUD.

The preceding International Scoping Workshop took place from 11 until 12 November 2010. It was officially opened by the Rector of UNU, the Saxon State Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Fine Arts and the Rector of TUD, and followed by a press conference that provided the opportunity to officially announce the planned establishment of UNU-FLORES and its twin institute resulting in considerable media coverage in press and television.

As a next step, it was agreed that UNU will organize a second International Scoping Workshop in close collaboration with its partners in Mozambique in the spring of 2011. 

                               

 Focus
 UNU-FLORES will focus on issues of crucial importance in the area of sustainability:

• integrated management and capacity development for material flow and resources management (water, soil and waste)
• development of global sustainable management strategies
• research, postgraduate education and continuing education.