Science

DWA World University Challenges

The international challenge for students, which is hosted by DWA, brings together water engineering talents from all over the world and gives them an unique opportunity to build networks with leading experts from the water sector while they are still at university.

Africa, Asia

India, China, South Africa, Turkey

Funding period: 2015-2026

Das Siegerteam der TU Wien — In 2022 and 2024, the team of students from the Vienna University of Technology made it to first place in the University Challenge of the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) at IFAT in Munich. Photo: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. (DWA), Hennef

The University Challenge is organised by the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) and presents the “Young Water Award” to the winning teams. It targets young water management engineers in China (Shanghai), India (Mumbai), South Africa (Johannesburg) and Turkey (Ankara).

Studierende stehen konzentriert vor einem Laptop — The competition offers committed international students of water management and engineering a valuable opportunity to test their expertise in a team. Photo: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. (DWA), Hennef

Führung von Fachexperten der Wilo Gruppe zum Thema Wasser auf dem Messestand — In 2024, students from Turkey and South Africa accepted the invitation of the Wilo-Foundation to a reception, at which Evi Hoch welcomed the international students and reported on the foundation's social support commitment. Afterwards, the students took part in a guided tour of the trade fair stand by experts from the Wilo Group on the topic of water. Photo: DWA Foto: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. (DWA), Hennef

The DWA University Challenge brings together teams of students and PhD candidates who jointly explore the issue of integrated water resource management. Their task is to equip a fictitious landscape with smart solutions for basic supply services within a specified time limit. The winning teams receive an award during the international IFAT trade fairs. The first prize is donated by the Wilo-Foundation: an invitation to IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for water, wastewater, waste and resource management, which takes place in Munich every two years. The second prize always includes an invitation to a factory tour at one of Wilo’s sites abroad.

Photo Header: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. (DWA), Hennef

Our funding partner

The German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, DWA e.V., Hennef) was founded in 1948 and is the technical-scientific association for experts and managers in waste and water management from municipalities, universities, engineering firms, authorities and companies. The DWA defines technical standards, is active in standardisation processes, supports researchers, promotes training and further training and advises policymakers, academia and the private sector.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs?