Graduation: celebration of sanitation students’ achievements
The 11 students who formed the fourth cohort of IHE Delft’s MSc Programme in Sanitation recently graduated in a ceremony that celebrated their achievements. In a demonstration of the strength of the class, two students – instead of the usual one – were honoured with awards for the outstanding quality of their theses.
The IHE Delft programme is part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-supported Global Sanitation Graduate School, which is currently implemented at 43 universities worldwide
Programme coordinator Claire Furlong, IHE Delft Senior Lecturer in Sanitary Engineering, said: “Every year I am impressed by our students and their outstanding research, which contributes to the neglected field of onsite sanitation. I cannot wait to see what they do with the knowledge and skills from the course when they return home, as I am sure that they will become our future leaders in sanitation.”
The Best MSc Thesis in Sanitation Award 2022
Morena Edith Akurut from Uganda, whose thesis focused on microwave treatment of faecal sludge, and Khuzwayo Thembo from Zambia, whose thesis focused on gender-based violence and sanitation in urban slums, both won The Best MSc Thesis in Sanitation Award 2022.
Morena Edith Akurut said her research involved a pilot set-up that treated sewage sludge from the waste water treatment plant in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The microwave treatment reduced sludge volume and resulted in a dried product that can be used as a fertiliser and as combustion fuel. This is an important finding, she added, as many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America use non-sewered (on-site) sanitation.
“Improving the knowledge of management and development of sanitation technologies and systems is vital. The MSc in sanitation course gave me insights into on-site sanitation, including the types of sanitation systems, technologies, public and environmental health impacts, sanitation marketing and behavioural change, among others,” she said.
Khuzwayo Thembo said his research showed that a holistic view on sanitation is needed: “We must begin to empathize with the human beings that use toilets rather than focus on the safe management of excreta alone,” he said, adding that he plans to influence policy and sanitation governance in his home country of Zambia and globally.
“My first step towards this is to establish a platform that will promote public discussion on urban developmental challenges in different global contexts, with a focus on water and sanitation in urban slums,” he said.
The best thesis award, introduced in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Sanitation Graduate School, rewards research that addresses challenges in the field. The award includes support enabling the winner to continue to do research at the host institution and to share the thesis findings in an open publication scientific journal as well as through a presentation at a conference.
Student experiences
William Mutale Nkonde from Zambia said: ‘’Being part of different water and sanitation professionals from all over the world to learn and share how we can solve the water and sanitation problems in our countries has been my greatest experience. I have learned practical and tested solutions from various experts and academicians. I learned that various sanitation systems and technologies are very contextual and no one-size-fits-all. I intend to apply the knowledge at the water supply and sanitation company which is responsible for providing water sanitation services in the city of Lusaka, and ultimately contribute to improving the Zambian and African water and sanitation sector. I also plan to start providing consultancy services, making podcasts on sanitation-related subjects, and venturing into part-time lecturing at local universities.’’
I learned that various sanitation systems and technologies are very contextual and no one-size-fits-all.
Folake Monsurat Babalola from Nigeria said: ‘’The programme has exposed, sharpened, and built me for a life-long career in becoming an expert in developing and validating sanitation interventions. My ambition is to be an advocate, research consultant, and catalyst for change in sanitation, and a medium for the empowerment of sanitation awareness, infrastructure, and policy in my home country, Nigeria.’’
Julius Arinaitwe from Uganda said: “My main takeaway from this course is that non-sewered sanitation is still the preferred mode of sanitation in most urban settings in sub-Saharan Africa, and as such needs to be given attention,” adding that good faecal management systems in urban areas require the involvement of all the stakeholders in the sanitation service chain if a good faecal management system is to be realized in these urban centres.
Learn more about the MSc programme in Sanitation here.