Public defense Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf

On Friday 3^rd of May Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf defend her thesis on Transferring Water Management Knowledge. How actors, interaction and context influence the effectiveness of Dutch-funded projects in Romania.

Promotors: Prof.dr. S.J.M.H. Hulscher and Prof.dr. J.Th.A. Bressers

Assistant Promotor: Dr.ir. D.C.M. Augustijn
Time: 14.45 hr.
Location: Lecture room 4, Waaier

This dissertation is a collaborative result of the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) Department and the Twente Centre for Studies in Technology and Sustainable Development (CSTM).

The WEM department is an interdisciplinary research groups executing research and providing education in the areas of water systems and management. The group aims to develop a better understanding of both the natural and socio-economic processes affecting water systems and to develop tools for supporting the management of these systems.

CSTM is specialized in research focusing on the governance of water management, energy and climate, sustainable production and consumption and sustainability and the regional/local level. Its international staff executes research both from developed and developing country perspectives.

All water research from various groups within the University of Twente is bundled in the Twente Water Centre. By bringing together and balancing the natural and social sciences, this Centre offers expertise both in the area of water systems and governance. The Centre and both research groups are Members of the Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies.

Author information

Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf obtained a master degree (cum laude) in Civil Engineering and Management at the University of Twente in 2007. During her study, she developed a particular interest for the human dimension of (international) water management. After completing her master’s degree, Joanne worked for short periods of time at the research institute Deltares and the University of Twente. Then, she developed a proposal for this PhD research. Most of the research was executed in Romania, where she lived from May 2008 until May 2011. During her research, she authored many international conference papers, journal articles and book chapters. Joanne also co-edited a book and was involved in teaching and the supervision of various students.

Joanne currently works at the regional water authority ‘Regge en Dinkel’ in Almelo, where she is responsible for the overall management of a European project on drought and governance. She was granted a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship for her research proposal ‘KNOW2ADAPT’, which she plans to execute at the University of Osnabrück, starting from 2014.

Short summary

Countries around the world face pressing, often similar, water problems. International projects in which knowledge is transferred from one country to another can contribute to solving these problems. Building on the experiences of three Dutch-funded flood risk management projects in Romania, this research investigates the effectiveness of externally supported knowledge transfer projects.

Using our evaluation framework, we demonstrate that international water projects, which are implemented with external support, are less effective than hoped for. The interactions between various actors enable the sharing and acquisition of knowledge, but do often not result in the actual application of knowledge. Follow-up actions are needed but get stuck in the absence of an actor who is able and willing to coordinate or take the lead in the mobilization of (financial) resources. We recommend moving towards a longer term perspective on international water projects. Such a perspective involved that projects are seen as learning processes, which can form the building blocks for the realization of the desired outcomes.

Please click here for the summary.

	CSTM Home > Public defense Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf
<< MB Home Home Staff Education Research Studies & Reports (pdf) Publication List Partners Contact Sitemap Search	Public defense Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf On Friday 3^rd of May Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf defend her thesis on Transferring Water Management Knowledge. How actors, interaction and context influence the effectiveness of Dutch-funded projects in Romania. Promotors: Prof.dr. S.J.M.H. Hulscher and Prof.dr. J.Th.A. Bressers Assistant Promotor: Dr.ir. D.C.M. Augustijn Time: 14.45 hr. Location: Lecture room 4, Waaier This dissertation is a collaborative result of the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) Department and the Twente Centre for Studies in Technology and Sustainable Development (CSTM). The WEM department is an interdisciplinary research groups executing research and providing education in the areas of water systems and management. The group aims to develop a better understanding of both the natural and socio-economic processes affecting water systems and to develop tools for supporting the management of these systems. CSTM is specialized in research focusing on the governance of water management, energy and climate, sustainable production and consumption and sustainability and the regional/local level. Its international staff executes research both from developed and developing country perspectives. All water research from various groups within the University of Twente is bundled in the Twente Water Centre. By bringing together and balancing the natural and social sciences, this Centre offers expertise both in the area of water systems and governance. The Centre and both research groups are Members of the Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies. Author information Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf obtained a master degree (cum laude) in Civil Engineering and Management at the University of Twente in 2007. During her study, she developed a particular interest for the human dimension of (international) water management. After completing her master’s degree, Joanne worked for short periods of time at the research institute Deltares and the University of Twente. Then, she developed a proposal for this PhD research. Most of the research was executed in Romania, where she lived from May 2008 until May 2011. During her research, she authored many international conference papers, journal articles and book chapters. Joanne also co-edited a book and was involved in teaching and the supervision of various students. Joanne currently works at the regional water authority ‘Regge en Dinkel’ in Almelo, where she is responsible for the overall management of a European project on drought and governance. She was granted a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship for her research proposal ‘KNOW2ADAPT’, which she plans to execute at the University of Osnabrück, starting from 2014. Short summary Countries around the world face pressing, often similar, water problems. International projects in which knowledge is transferred from one country to another can contribute to solving these problems. Building on the experiences of three Dutch-funded flood risk management projects in Romania, this research investigates the effectiveness of externally supported knowledge transfer projects. Using our evaluation framework, we demonstrate that international water projects, which are implemented with external support, are less effective than hoped for. The interactions between various actors enable the sharing and acquisition of knowledge, but do often not result in the actual application of knowledge. Follow-up actions are needed but get stuck in the absence of an actor who is able and willing to coordinate or take the lead in the mobilization of (financial) resources. We recommend moving towards a longer term perspective on international water projects. Such a perspective involved that projects are seen as learning processes, which can form the building blocks for the realization of the desired outcomes. Please click here for the summary.