The Academic Board of the Catholic University of Peru, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious, high-quality universities of Latin America, has awarded Dr. Rutgerd Boelens the title of Visiting Professor. The appointment will have a strong added value and effectively contribute to Wageningen UR’s objectives of social impact and societal relevance. It also offers the possibility to further deepen the leading role of Wageningen UR in water research in the Andean Region countries.
The appointment is for the period 2010-2013, and is the outcome of the joint request by the Departments of Social Sciences and Law, two departments with whom Dr. Boelens will realize his academic collaboration. The request, after accomplishing the official application procedures and the approval by the Vice-Rector, has been formally accredited by the Academic Board on September 23, 2009.
The Visiting Professorship entails full academic rights as a Professor. Major elements of his tasks include:
- Support to the university’s water and environmental knowledge strategies and interdisciplinary approaches;
- Training of young university teachers and researchers in the field of socio-technical approaches to water management;
- Support the set-up of a teaching course and curriculum development, among others, in the socio-environmental studies program, on water, sustainable development, and NRM conflicts, policies and politics.
- Support and set-up of a research and publication program on water rights and NRM, together with university staff of the Depts. Social Sciences and Law
- BSc, MSc and PhD thesis supervision
- Joint set-up and fund acquisition for collaborative, international research projects on water rights, management and policies;
- Conferences and Seminars on Water, Law and Environment.
The professorship is not remunerated as it will evolve within ongoing project collaborations between Wageningen UR and PUCP (which already have WOTRO and DGIS funding that aim for Wageningen UR-academic support to Peru). Additionally, new collaborative projects are being set up for Wageningen UR-PUCP academic interaction, which also cover Wageningen UR-mission costs.
The appointment provides ample opportunities to strengthen academic collaboration and exchange between Wageningen UR and PUCP, and to strengthen the international research networks in which Wageningen UR and PUCP jointly operate. Next, for reasons of academic recognition and institutional embedding in a developing country, the position will enhance the possibilities for acquisition of PUCP-Wageningen UR collaborative project funds. Most important, the appointment opens the possibility to organize interdisciplinary courses and supervise and support students and researchers in their home country and institutions.
Dr. Rutgerd Boelens is Associate Professor and Senior Researcher in the chair group and Irrigation Water Management at the Department of Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University. His publication record includes a book series on Water & Society in Peru.