Annex XIV (Proposed) -
Education and E-Training in Dams & Dam Safety

Background

Utilities worldwide are facing a significant knowledge gap in the next decade. Most large dams, whether for water supply, hydropower, flood control or irrigation, were built more than 30 years ago, and many of the engineers who designed and built them have retired from the workforce, or are approaching retirement. However, as dams age, the need for surveillance, maintenance and repair grows, which requires experienced and well-trained engineers and technical personnel, with a different approach and application of knowledge from that required for the original design and construction. There is a need to provide opportunities for appropriate education and training on dams and dam safety among younger engineers, and to offer them exposure to an international network of experts.

Annex VII provided valuable experience in developing and using web-based education methods, and this will be the basis of the technology and process for this proposed new Annex.

Objectives

The new Annex aims to strengthen international information sharing and create long-distance education possibilities for dam and dam safety engineers and technical staff, companies and academia. The results of this work will be a common knowledge bank, which can be used for education and training. To achieve this purpose, the Annex will create a web-based information forum containing an on-line library and distance education system, as well as holding workshops and seminars.

Proposed Work Plan

The work plan will be subdivided into three tasks:

Task 1: Review of Knowledge and Development of Educational Material

• Separate working groups will be established for different competence fields within the main topics of dams and dam safety.
• The first activity will be to review reports, case studies, journals and literature, in order to select and structure materials for an on-line library.
• The second activity will be to use the resource material to select, structure and develop the educational material

Task 2: Development of Information Forum

A web-based information forum will be established including the on-line library and distance education material. This will include setting up data bases and the learning management system (LMS) on the Moodle platform, which has been used by an earlier Annex.

Task 3: Workshops and seminars

Workshops and seminars will be organized to support the learning activities from Task 1, and their application to the distance education system.

Deliverables

The outcome of this Annex will be a web-based information forum on dams and dam safety, including an on-line library and long distance education system for use by participating countries, and, potentially, other users (for a fee). Four internal workshops and one open seminar are also planned.

Schedule

The overall duration of this Annex is expected to be about 3 years. However, the Annex could be extended to broaden coverage or extend to other related subjects.

Next Steps

The IEA Hydropower Agreement is keen to promote its work programmes within participating countries and to encourage further interest in its work from non-participating countries. All OECD countries are eligible to participate fully. In addition, the IEA Governing Board has decided that the Implementing Agreements may also be open to non-member countries.

A level of interest in this proposed Annex should be communicated to the Secretary, IEA Hydropower.

Any specific questions on the technical aspects of the Annex can be addressed by the Operating Agent:

Urban Norstedt
Director
Dam Safety
Vattenfall AB, Sweden
Email: Urban Norstedt