On 4 July 2025, WE are Water Education (Indonesia) officially started its second batch with more than 70 civil servants from East Java Province. The program was developed by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and The Water Agency, together with the East Java provincial government, as part of the Orange Knowledge Programme supported by Nuffic and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its main objective is to strengthen climate-resilient water management in the Welang River Basin, an area facing challenges such as recurrent flooding, deforestation, and water pollution. Learn more about the program here and Batch 1 here.
Participants in Batch 2 represent a wide range of government divisions and agencies, including watershed planning, irrigation, river and coastal management, disaster management, and forestry. Their professional backgrounds span from engineers, planners, and IT specialists to legal analysts and field operators. This diversity creates opportunities for integrated, cross-sector collaboration and ensures the program’s relevance across multiple areas of water and climate governance.
The launch was held as a hybrid event with representatives from PUSDA, The Water Agency, and the program participants. PUSDA opened the event by stressing the importance of institutional capacity in water management and the value of international cooperation. The session also highlighted the shared responsibility of tackling climate challenges across sectors. The Water Agency provided an overview of the cooperation between Indonesian and Dutch partners, outlining how this collaboration has shaped the design of WE are Water Education (Indonesia). Participants were then onboarded to the Asia Water Academy platform, where they tested their accounts, navigated the learning pages, and troubleshooted access to ensure a smooth digital learning experience. The session concluded with an open Q&A.
From July through August 2025, the Asia Water Academy platform will host four online modules covering early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, the economics of ecosystem services, and stakeholder engagement in river basin management. Each module combines lectures from Indonesian and international experts with structured learning materials, assessments, and a progress tracking system. A minimum passing grade of 60 percent is required for certification, and the top-performing participants will be recognized in early September.
By hosting WE are Water Education (Indonesia) Batch 2, Asia Water Academy provides a platform that connects civil servants with international expertise while supporting practical, cross-country learning. This continuation demonstrates how digital education can strengthen local capacity and prepare East Java’s institutions to address the growing challenges of water and climate resilience.
