Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
Water and Coastal Management
WACOMA
The 3 partner universities UNIBO-UCA-UALG have a long lasting cooperation in jointly running programmes on the topic of coastal management; UCA and UALG started the 1st EMMC WACOMA programme, back in 2004-2010, coordinated by the University of the Algarve; the University of Bologna joined in the 2nd edition 2011-2016 coordinated by the University of Cadiz. Please find following some previous editions Alumni testimonies.
I think every student of the world have a dream to study abroad and own a foreign degree. I am also not out of that. From my childhood, it was one of mine envision to study in overseas countries and achieve an international degree specially from world recognized reputed university. I am always grateful to Water and Coastal Management (WACOMA) team to fulfill my that desire.
"Studying at the University of Bologna was a remarkable experience, we were introduced to Coastal and Marine Management with high quality teaching, fieldtrips and laboratory work. We were constantly encouraged to take a step further and think outside the box, always assisted by experienced professors. Apart from the academic life, a very inclusive environment supported by the University promoted the integration of international students during all the semester, giving us the opportunity to meet other people and share our culture.
Aiming to focus my research on Social-Ecological Systems, I found in the University of Algarve the right place to work on my thesis. As part of my thesis plan I had the unique opportunity to do an internship at Future Earth Coasts International Project Office in Ireland, which was an amazing experience to learn from top coastal and marine researchers, expand my network and add new perspectives to my research.
I would never be able to imagine all the opportunities that being part of Wacoma would offer me, all the great people I would meet, friends I would make and cultures I would explore - and for that I am truly grateful."
"WACOMA has fulfilled my European dream. From every class to field trips and laboratory works, I have had the opportunities to achieve vital knowledge and experiences from wonderful teachers. I could learn beautiful languages and cook their cuisine from each country I’ve stayed. It has given not only the chance to explore the rich of European culture and history but I’ve also share and exchange culture with my amazing WACOMA friends. This is an incredible journey in my life that I will never forget."
I was so elated when I was offered the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for the WACOMA program in 2015 and arriving at the University of Bologna was the smoothed transition I have made in my career years. Our tutor and the international team made studying abroad really cool as they helped us sort out all the hurdles of relocating into a new environment.
I am presently working as a Senior Scientific Officer at Centre for Integrated Studies on the Sundarbans (CISS), Khulna University, Khulna-9208, and Bangladesh. The main responsibility of mine in the Centre is to carry out the different facets (ecotoxicology, marine ecology, and broadly coastal management) of research on coastal resources of the world largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans of Bangladesh.
"Erasmus Mundus offered me the greatest experience ever. I added to my academic background in Communication Engineering a new perspective in Water and Coastal Management and environment which resulted in a highly qualified job position as Wireless Systems Engineer in a top company specialized in Wireless Communication Systems. I am based in Italy but the headquarter of the company is in New York and I often travel to some of the other branches in Milan, Paris, Taipei, Chicago and London.
It was a unique 2-years Master Degree Programme in a multicultural context, I had the opportunity to study in excellent European Universities. I had the chance to travel, meet people from all over the world and share experiences that I would recommend to anyone."
"Attending WACOMA program is one of the best things that has ever happened in my life. Everything in WACOMA to me was open, free and fair starting from advertisement, selection and the whole operation of the program. To my surprise, I was one of the selected candidates. It was a mixture of confusion and happiness as I knew no one and didn’t know anything about Europe. Having been born and brought up in a small village in my country (Kenya) the imagination of travelling outside the country to ‘unknown’ destination a board a flight was a dream that I didn’t want to wake up from."
"Studying abroad doing Erasmus Mundus Programs turned out to be the best time of my life. It was unique from the personal as well as the academic point of view. I ended up studying in many countries, England, Spain, Italy. It was full of great moments and discoveries, life-time lasting friendships and a total immersion into new exciting cultures, an experience that changed my life completely. It was definitely challenging for me in some ways, however I learned so much about myself and it also helped me develop in so many different ways; I never thought I would be able to overcome these challenges on my own. I am now able to see it as a learning curve within my life, as well as an absolutely fantastic challenge that I appreciated and loved every minute of. Career-speaking, doing Erasmus Mundus definitely increased my employability prospects. Erasmus Mundus has opened many doors for me, and it gave that world knowledge that helped me to position myself in the world and get a new job in my research field. A few months ago I got a postdoc in Brazil, I believe that being Erasmus Mundus graduate made a big deal in getting the job."
[27 February 2019]
Last update: 29 Sep 2021
I think every student of the world have a dream to study abroad and own a foreign degree. I am also not out of that. From my childhood, it was one of mine envision to study in overseas countries and achieve an international degree specially from world recognized reputed university. I am always grateful to Water and Coastal Management (WACOMA) team to fulfill my that desire.
It was 30 April, 2016 when I got an email from WACOMA that I have been selected for that course with Erasmus Mundus scholarship opportunity. Truly, on that night I couldn’t sound sleep. However, when the journey begun I was so tensed and nervous as a whole as it was my first Europe tour but after getting my friendly colleagues and helpful teachers I didn’t feel more anxiety.
The education system of WACOMA is really overwhelming. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course specially the well-organized class lectures, goal oriented practical classes and field trips. The authority and teaching staffs of both University of Bologna and University of Cadiz are very cooperative. Besides that, during WACOMA course, students get one year research opportunity which is very beneficial and different from many other Erasmus courses.
Besides providing many international connections with professors and friends, WACOMA course helped me to boost up my research career and I hope it will continue to do so in the years to come.
In 2019, my final paper “Spatial avoidance, inhibition of recolonization and population isolation in zebrafish (Danio rerio) caused by copper exposure under a non-forced approach” was accepted and published by Science of the Total Environment journal (SCI Impact factor: 4.9) here: https://bit.ly/3d8JLes
Furthermore, this course assisted me to get chance as a research member in "MULTICECOTOX: Complementary eco-toxicological approach for assessing environmental disturbance" research project (http://www.multicecotox.csic.es/). The main goal of the research project is to study the avoidance response of the aquatic organisms exposed to contaminants. We will try to investigate and understand how the contamination reduces the quality of aquatic ecosystems as well as affects the distribution of organisms settled there.
Currently I have been working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aquatic Resource Management, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh (http://www.sau.ac.bd/). I would like to recommend all, the goal oriented students who are working with aquatic environment should take an advantage to grab this opportunity.
I am always grateful to WACOMA team to fulfill my European dream.
Go ahead WACOMA, hope for the best.
Attending WACOMA program is one of the best things that has ever happened in my life. Everything in WACOMA to me was open, free and fair starting from advertisement, selection and the whole operation of the program. To my surprise, I was one of the selected candidates. It was a mixture of confusion and happiness as I knew no one and didn’t know anything about Europe. Having been born and brought up in a small village in my country (Kenya) the imagination of travelling outside the country to ‘unknown’ destination a board a flight was a dream that I didn’t want to wake up from. Within no time, I processed my passport (I never had one before WACOMA) things were happening very fast, my tickets were processed, my insurance ready, my visa ready and was ready to face the ‘unknown’, first time away from my family. My arrival in Italy (Ravenna) was filled with so much joy, everything was well organized (thanks to Filomena Volpe). I was capable of meeting a bunch of other confused candidates from different parts of the world and the confusion made us blend so well becoming a wonderful family.
Through WACOMA, I was capable of realizing my love for travel, managed to travel to more than ten cities in more than five Schengen countries in Europe driven by my desires to explore more of the ‘unknown’ world. The program hardened me to be able to survive anywhere in the world and put up with any culture. The cold weather was my worst experience, the better part was that for the first time in my life, I saw a snow fall in January in Ravenna.
Professionally, WACOMA is an interdisciplinary program that anyone interested in any aspect of aquatic resources need to attend, it has wide coverage ranging from aquatic biology (field work and laboratory bio assessment), physical, chemical to social aspects in policy formulation and environmental ethics considerations. The program equipped me with a well-developed field and laboratory research and professional networking skills, it gives opportunity to interact with experienced professionals in the areas of coastal and aquatic management. Personally I have maintained contacts with several professors that have been of great importance in my career to date.
The Professors were very friendly, understanding and helpful, am forever thankful to Prof. Elena Fabbri; Second semester in Cadiz Spain was another good experience and second year I went to in Portugal at University of Algarve, under supervision of Prof. Alice Newton. I developed my analytical skills and created professional links. Besides, as a Kenya team (WACOMA alumni’s) we have come together and working with communities in Kenya on sustainable coastal resource management (the birth of ERACOMA Consultants).
I am presently working as a Senior Scientific Officer at Centre for Integrated Studies on the Sundarbans (CISS), Khulna University, Khulna-9208, and Bangladesh. The main responsibility of mine in the Centre is to carry out the different facets (ecotoxicology, marine ecology, and broadly coastal management) of research on coastal resources of the world largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans of Bangladesh.
The Studying on water and coastal management (WACOMA) in the University of Bologna, Italy and the University of Cadiz, Spain allowed me an opportunity to gain practical understanding on the different coastal issues (Coastal ecology, ecotourism, marine pollution, coastal policy etc). This interdisciplinary program also provided me with a good background on the marine environment, aquatic biology which I might need for my future research career.
The design of study of WACOMA consists of worldwide renowned professors, scientists and researchers. They are exemplary in their teaching styles, friendship, wisdom and thought. The scientists and professors on course deliver the knowledge with passion and I think their notes are the most comprehensive ones compared to others I’d seen. Through this program, I am introduced with the modern technology in the laboratory. The laboratory and field works helped me to develop my analytical skills and created me a thirstier of doing innovation research in future.
I have built up personal relations with some people (professors, scientists) that are so important for my research career. I am avid in coastal environment and I would like to protect it in order to maintain its resources for future generations. I hope that the future students in any scientific field will be able to gain research foundation from this program. You guys who are interest to study WACOMA, You are in right track. Don’t tense about your alien environment in Europe, where Filomena Volpe (Italy) and Carmen Maria López (Spain) are ready to make your new journey easier.
I was so elated when I was offered the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for the WACOMA program in 2015 and arriving at the University of Bologna was the smoothed transition I have made in my career years. Our tutor and the international team made studying abroad really cool as they helped us sort out all the hurdles of relocating into a new environment. Besides, the study experience was fantastic with massive hands on and numerous field trips. WACOMA training prepared me with the technical and soft skills to handle real world challenges in the field of water and coastal management. Because of my interest in research, I proceeded immediately to do my PhD in marine conservation and management at the University of Cadiz Spain, investigating the ecotoxicological impacts of fragrances in the marine ecosystems. I am glad to have successfully defended my PhD thesis recently and now working with the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom.
Many thanks to the WACOMA coordinating team for selecting me and today, I am continuously motivated to keep adding values to making our world a better and safer place to live and thrive.
