~ Pergamon

Wal. ScL Tech. Vol. 38. No. 11. pp. 261-269. 1998.
. IC 19981AWQ
. . Pubhshed by Elsevier Science Ltd
Printed m Great Britain. All righll reserved
PIT: S0273-1223(98)00663-.5 0273·1223198 $19'00 + 0'00

A NEW APPROACH TO EDUCATION AND

TRAINING IN WATER AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
T. H. Y. Tebbutt* and D. R. Woods**
• School of Construction, Sheffield Hallam University. Sheffield SIIWB. UK
•• CIWEM. 15 John Street, London WCIN 2EB. UK

ABSTRACf
The paper describes the development of a programme of interdisciplinlll)' professional education and training
in the UK as influenced by new practices in environmental management. The roles of academic institutions
and. professi~nal qualifying ~ies are ~onsi~ered in .relation to career develo~ment needs. The concepts
behmd a radIcally new profeSSIonal quahficalJon are dIscussed and methods for Its delivery in practice are
explained. The importance of clearly defined aims and objectives for such a course is stressed. @ 1998
IA WQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

KEYWORDS
Education; training; professional qualifications; water and environmental management.

INTRODUCfION

The growth of interest in environmental matters both at a professional level and amongst the general public
has brought abo!1t major changes in the way in which organisations involved with the environment carry out
their activities. The acceptance by governments of the concept of sustainable development and the
increasing importance given to ethical environmental practices in business have focused attention on the
need for improved understanding of the factors involved in environmental management. Effective
environmental management requires a sound appreciation of the often complex interrelationships within the
natural and built environments coupled with knowledge of the technological. economic and sociological
constraints. There is a growing view that environmental education should not be an optional add-on but an
integral part oftraining for professionals involved with the natural and built environments and for business
leaders.

Professional education and training in the UK has for many years followed the pattern of a first degree in a
specific scientific or technological discipline which is complemented by a period oftraining and experience
monitored and assessed by a professional institution. The university degree is Seen as providing the
fundamental knowledge and tools with the training and experience period enabling practical applications to
be developed in a situation of increasing responsibility. The system used by the Engineering Council for
Chartered Engineer statusinvolves the attainment of a ftrst degree from a recognised course which is
followed by four years of training and experience assessed by a professional review by one of the specialist
institutions in membership of the Engineering Council. Such a procedure is relatively easy to establish and
261
 262 T. H. Y. lEBBUTI' and D. R. WOODS

operate .within ~pecific. engin~~ri~g .disciplines such as civil engineering or chemical engineering but
becomes more difficult m multidisciplinary areas such as environmental management.

The ~artered Institu~ion of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is a multidisciplinary

pro~essl~nal ~y ~ho s Royal Charter defines water and environmental management as the application of
engmeenng, SCientific or management knowledge and expertise to the provision of works and services
designed to further the beneficial management, conservation and improvement of the environment. This
includes such areas of activity as:

Environmental management
Resource protection, development and conservation
Integrated pollution control
Public health, water and sanitation services
Flood defence and land drainage
Environmental recreation, amenity and conservation.

As a result of these interests CIWEMhas members with academic qualifications from a wide range of
engineering, science and technology disciplines. Members with an engineering background can follow the
Engineering Council pattern of training and experience and be registered as Chartered Engineers through
CIWEM. Non-engineers must follow a similar type of route to demonstrate their suitability for corporate
membership of CIWEM. A Structured Training Scheme measures the competence standards of vocational,
rather than academic, knowledge. The academic knowledge is regarded as providing the underpinning for
acquisition of vocational skills although there areas of overlap between academic and vocational sectors. In
this context, appropriate postgraduate qualifications in addition to a relevant first degree may be considered
as fulfilling part of the necessary vocational experience. To achieve corporate membership status candidates
must demonstrate that they have:

Obtained an acceptable academic qualification.

Become professionally competent at increasing levels of knowledge and responsibility.
Completed an experience review certified by a workplace mentor.

When considering academic requirements for membership of an engineering institution it is relatively

straightforward to establish clear guidelines for the content and standard of an accredited degree course.
With a multidisciplinary intake it is much more difficult to set out, in other than broad terms, the
requirements for an accredited degree course. Those intending to make a career in environmental
management could well have degrees in a range of engineering disciplines, pure and applied sciences,
economics, and in environmental management itself. CIWEM has a policy of recognising appropriate
degrees which are approved by other chartered institutions and it also accredits degrees in environmental
sciences and management which may not have come within the scope of other professional institutions.

When CIWEM was formed in 1987 by the unification of three professional institutions with common
interests in water, wastewater, and environmental management it inherited a Diploma in Water Pollution
Control which was a vocationally-based examination to provide a free-standing qualification which was also
used by non-graduates to satisfy corporate membership requirements. This Diploma although technically
demanding was not equivalent to a first degree in scope or coverage. The award of a Royal Charter to
CIWEM in 1994 meant that graduate entry became the norm for corporate membership but the Institution's
Council was determined to maintain opportunities for those without a first degree to eventually reach the
academic standard required for corporate membership. It thus became necessary to establish anInstitution•
based qualification of postgraduate status and this has been achieved in thenew CIWEM CertificatelDiploma
programme which has been developed in clos: collaboration with several universities.
 Water and environmental management
263
OBJECI1VES OF THE NEW QUALIFICATION

The new Certificate and Diploma qualification has three overall objectives:

To support members,. ~d their employers, wi~ ~rofessional training 10 water and environmental
management, by provldmg the common underpmnmg knowledge and practical application needed i
all sectors of the industry. n
To provide graduates who are members of the Institution with the opportunity to obtain postgraduate
qualifications in water and environmental management that are linked to the Structured Training
Scheme.
To provide a route to the academic standard for corporate membership for those whose existing
qualifications do not meet the Institution's requirements, but would allow them admission to
postgraduate study at British universities.

The qualification thus aims to satisfy the needs of members in their personal career development and also
those of employers who need to demonstrate that their staff have obtained an externally-recognised
qualification in water and environmental management

The Institution's Education and Training Committee decided that the objectives of the new qualification
could only be achieved through the provision of university-based courses which could, if desired,lead on to
the award of an MSc degree after submission of a dissertation.

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE

In order to provide the academic rigour necessary for a recognised postgraduate qualification comprehensive
discussions were held over several months with a number of universities to establish the course content and
means of assessment. These discussions resulted in a format with a Certificate stage involving four
compulsory modules followed by a Diploma stage which requires four modules to be selected from a list of
options in specialist areas. The content of the individual modules was developed by establishing clear aims
which fed through to anticipated learning outcomes. It was then feasible to determine indicative content and
a teaching programme which are supplemented by a study guide providing more detailed information about
coverage of a particular module. It was recognised that the delivery of such a course would have to take into
account the varying backgrounds of potential students, both in academic qualifications and in work
experience. Part-time study involves a considerable amount of commitment from participants who need to
devote time to their academic activities as well as undertaking their normal employment responsibilities. It
was therefore felt to be important that the course was structured and delivered in a fully professional context.

Table 1. Outline syllabuses for Certificate modules

Module Outline content

Environmental Systems Biomes and ecosystems; resource evaluation;

human impacts on the environment

Environmental Quality Air quality; land quality; water quality

Environmental Policy International and national environmental policies;

and Regulation European and UK environmental law;
business environmental policy development

Environmental Management Environmental assessment and audit;

environmental economics and statistics
264 T. H. Y. TEBBUTT and D. R. WOODS

Table 2. Outline syllabuses for Diploma modules

Module Outline content

Air Quality Control Domestic and industrial air pollution control;

air quality in buildings; odour nuisance control;
quality monitoring and reporting; policy and law

Coastal Engineering Hydrography, estuarine and coastal modelling;

tide warnings and coastal defence; outfall design;
operation and maintenance; policy and law

Industrial Environmental Environmental policy development; management processes;

Management integrated pollution control; clean technologies;
energy; water; wastes, transportation; packaging;
raw materials and services; policy and law

()perational Management and Organisations and strategic planning;

Customer Service managing operational assets; delivering customer service;
human resources management; financial management;
management support systems

Pipeline Services Hydraulics; water mains; sewers; pumping stations;

pipeline rehabilitation; mathematical modelling;
operation and maintenance; policy and law

Recreation, Amenity Water sports; fisheries and their management;

amenity and conservation project planning;
catchment management planning; policy and law

River Engineering Hydrology and river modelling; flood warning;

flood defence; land drainage, navigation;
river structures; maintenance; policy and law

Urban Wastewater Sewerage; sewage treatment; industrial effiuent control;

sludge utilisation and disposal; policy and law

Waste and Land Waste minimisation; collection, transport, storage;

Management landfill management; treatment and disposal processes;
contaminated land remediation; policy and law

Water Pollution Control Natural water quality; pollution impacts;

discharge consents; catchment management planning;
sampling, analysis and reporting; policy and law

Water Resources Sources and their uses; resources planning;

catchment planning; abstraction management;
source protection; policy and law

Water Supply Demand management; treatment plant design & operation;

distribution systems and quality; quality standards;
customer protection; policy and law
 Water and environmental management
26S
The four Certificate modules (Table I) aim to provide a basic common grounding in wate d
r
environmental management. They provide an understanding of the relationship between human activ't and
'
th e enVironment, th e quanti'fi'
IcatlOn 0 f Impacts,
' an d th e approaches to control and minimisation of
I Yan
adverse environmental effects. any

Successful completion of the four Certificate modules provides the essential foundation for progress to the
Diploma modules, which cover a wide range of specialist areas. The titles of the current Diploma modules
together with their outline contents are given in Table 2. The detailed Structure ofthe Urban Wastewater
module in the Diploma programme, given in the Appendix, demonstrates the concepts adopted and the
balance between the fundamental and applied nature of the structure.

Selection of four Diploma modules would be dependent on the career development plans of an individual
and/or the wishes of an employer. Each module deals in depth with its topic area, equipping a student to
critically appraise data and information, develop policy, produce designs and practical actions, and
undertake the planning and operational management of systems and facilities. The subject matter and
teaching methods in each module provide an integrated approach to theory and practice and stress the
importance of innovation and creativity in technological development.Quantitative aspects are emphasised
where this is appropriate.

The contents ofCertificate and Diploma modules and the methods of teaching and assessment employed take
into account the mandatory competences specified in the CIWEM Structured Training Scheme which are
listed in Table 3. It is unlikely that aJI of these competences would be demonstrated in an individual
assignment but with 16 assignments in a fuJI Certificate and Diploma programme many wiJI be included.

Table 3. Mandatory competencies in the Structured Training scheme

Formulation of policy and strategy for a project

Identification of the constraints on implementation of a project
Making recommendations for a solution
Procurement and implementation of the recommended solution
operation and maintenance of the recommended solution
Awareness of health and safety aspects of the recommended solution
Application ofprofessionaJ ethics to work
Contribution to organisational efficiency
Personal improvement and development
Acquisition of a wider understanding ofwater and environmental management

Structured training is seen by the Institution as a key sta~e in the tr~ning of prof~ssionals and in preparation
for the professional review to gain corporate membership. The Certificate and Diploma modules are unique
in that the assignments are designed both to test the knowledge of the syJIabus and to demonstrate the
achievement of the required training competences.

All Certificate and Diploma modules have the same basic structure comprising:

60 hours of teaching, tutorials and guided study

25 hours spent on assignments , .
15 hours attendance at and reporting on deSignated meetings and events

Completion of the Certificate level thus requires 400 hours of study and the Di~loma level a furth~r 400
hours. This can be achieved in a minimum of two years on a one day per week b~ls over the acaderruc year
but can be spread over a maximum period of five years. Courses are us~alIy p~ovI,ded as one aftem~~ and
one evening each week so that both employer and student mak~ a comrrutmen.t In time and effort. IndiVidual
modules are available as free-standing courses as part of a continuous profeSSIOnal development programme
which may not require attainment of the CIWEM Diploma.
266 T. H. Y. TEBBUTT and D. R. WOODS

COURSE MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT

As a professional qualification of postgraduate status it is obviously essential that the management and
assessment of the course is undertaken using academically acceptable procedures. The Institution retains
overall control of the qualification and makes the awards through a Joint Examinations Board comprising
CIWEM nominees and representatives of the universities providing courses. The Joint Examinations Board:

Makes recommendations for syllabus development and the management of all aspects of the
examinations and assessment of students. •
Approves course assignments and examination questions drafted by the academic members of the
Board.

Individual universities providing the courses mark their own students' work with the results subject to
moderation by the Board.The involvement of an external examinerensures that the standard and fairness of
the assessment procedures is appropriate and comparable with other postgraduate qualifications in the UK.
Examinations

Each module is examined by a traditional three-hour closed-book written paper in which three questions
must be attempted from a choice of six. The questions are aimed at giving candidates the opportunity to
demonstrate the understanding of topics and their relevance in the wider environmental context rather than
simple repetition of material from lecture notes. Model solutions and marking schemes assist in normalising
this part of the assessment, which as mentioned above, is carried out by staff in the individual universities
who have collectively provided questions for the papers.

Assi~nments

Two assignments are set for each module and these are intended to emphasise the application of material
covered in lectures and link to the structured training competences. A student's workplace mentor signs off
the assignment report in relation to the training competences. Table 4 gives an example of one assignment
for the Environmental Quality module at Certificate level.

Table 4. Typical Certificate level assignment

For your place of work or for a location with which you are familiar:

Prepare a water balance quantifying the water used from public and private sources,
wastewater generated and surfacewater drainage.

Determine typical qualities for the various sources and flows and hence indicate the
environmental consequences of the activities carried out at the chosen location.

Using the relevant local charges determine the annual cost for water and wastewater services
at the location and comment on the influence of average and peak values on costs and
methods of charging.

Investigate short-term measures which could be used to reduce water consumption and
determine the potential effects on water and wastewater flows. Discuss the longer-term
influences of a ten-fold increase in water and wastewater charges on water usage at the
location.

Assignment reports are limited to 5000 word-equivalents and are normally submitted four weeks after they
are set with marking undertaken by staff at the individual universities.
 Water and environmental management 267

Assessment
of the modul k be.
The written examination paper contributes 40% of the module mark with 30% e mar mg
allocated to each of the two assignments.
tion and assignments.
The pass mark for a module is 50% with a minimum of 40% in both written examina
each university so th t
Th~ external examiner reviews a sample of scripts and assignments from
into account at the Board meeting a h~~
vanations in assessment between universities can be taken w IC
moderates the results and confirms the pass list.

COURSE DELIVERY
and the various participatin
Delivery of the course modules is not prescribed in detail by CIWEM
s based on the needs of students and the availability o~
universities have adopted somewhat different strategie
resources.

~heffield Hallam University is one of the largest British universities

and it has a long tradition of helping
mdividuals and organisations tofulfill their potential through education, training and research that is relevant
Hallam University is based in
to the workplace and to real work situations. The CIWEM course at Sheffield
in the Schools otFinancial Studies and
the School of Construction but is able to draw on the expertise of staff
Mathem atics, and Urban and Regional Studies. This
Law, Leisure and Food Management, Science and
approa:h to the teaching with maj~r benefits in demonstrating the
~rovidesa valuabl~ interdisciplinary
te and Diploma modules are
Importance of an tntegrated approach to environmental management Certifica the academic
over two 12-week periods during
delivered on a day release basis of an afternoon and evening ented by
ofteaching time for each module which is supplem
year. This arrangement provides 36 hours registered
before the examina tion period. Course participa nts are
revision and counselling sessions ies.
and computi ngfacilit
University students and thus have access to library, leaming centre
employers which involves a
An alternative means of course delivery has been arranged formajor
modules andlor attendance with
combination ofone-week blocks at the employer's training centre for some
the day-release students at the University campus for other modules.

to the MSc degree in Water

Students who have successfully completed the CIWEM Diploma can proceed
submitti ng a dissertation on
and Environmental Management by taking a Research Methods module and
to obtain both a nationalprofessional
what would normally be a work-based investigation. It is thus possible
qUalification directed towards the needs of employers and a postgraduate degree.

one in Scotland and one in

The CIWEM course is currently offered by four universities in England with
of the country it is recognised that a
Northern Ireland. Although this provides fairly wide coverage
nts would find it very difficult , because of geographic location or
significant number of potential participa
learning provision would thus
work commitments, to attend their nearest university. Some form of distance
ing and supporti ng a full scale distance
seem to be desirable in the longer term. However, the cost of develop
a y sm~l ~arket. At th7 ~resent time one of the
learning package would be very high for wh~t is relativ~l
g a basic type of dIstance leammg which mvolves pr~vlslo n of teaching material
course-providers is operatin
sessIons at the university. This
as used for its day release courses supplemented by regular weekend study
l market fo~ distance learning in the UK. Some
activity should help to establish the size of the potentia
has already been generated 10 a number ofcountries which have
interest in the new CIWEM Diploma
could thus be Opportunities for
professional education and training routes similar to those in the UK. There
n Union, which operate under the same
the CIWEM course to be franchised to other parts of the Europea
environmental policies, and to other parts of the world.
268 T. H. Y. 1EBBUTT and D. R. WOODS

CONCLUSIONS

The growing importance of environmental considerations in all aspects of life has focused attention on the
need for professionals in disciplines to have a clear understanding of the fundamental factors on which
sound environmental management must be based. Many first degrees cannot include detailed consideration
of environmental topics and thus there is a clear role for professional qualifying institutions to deliver
structured education, training and experience programmes which provide an independent indicator of
professional competence.

The development of such programmes requires considerable effort and is best achieved by meaningful
collaboration between the professional institutions and universities working towards clearly defined aims
and objectives. It is essential to strike a balance between what may be seen by practitioners as essential
coverage of topics and the practical constraints of teaching and study time. It is also important that the
course content and method of delivery stimulate and motivate students so that they are actively involved in
learning both on their own and by interaction with others.

In the past some decisions and activitiesin engineering and science have had unfortunate environmental
consequences and it is vital for sustainable development in the future that decision makers have access to
informed professional advice. Such advice can best be assured by the use of carefully structured schemes of
education, training and experience in environmental management which are under the control of a
professional qualifying body.

APPENDIX: TYPICAL STRUCTURE FOR A DIPLOMA MODULE

URBAN WASTEWATER

Introduction and rationale

This optional module provides a thorough grounding in the practical onerational management of urban
wastewater in the context of customer service and environmental protection. This is achieved by considering
the control of trade effluent discharges to sewer, the planning, design and operation of wastewater and
sludge treatment plants, sludge utilisation and disposal systems, which meet environmental and customer
service standards. It provides methods by which to assess capacity requirements, undertake treatment plant
process design and effectively operate and maintain treatment and disposal systems. It ensures the
awareness, competencies and methodology for consideration of the specific issues in urban wastewater
management.

Summaa' of aims
The module builds on the understanding of urban wastewater management and the measures necessary to
meet environmental standards and customer expectations. Its principal aims are:

• To provide a knowledge of the issues involved in the management of discharges to sewer so as to

protect the sewer, treatment and disposal systems and the receiving water, whilst providing an
effective customer service.
• To provide an understanding of the characteristics of wastewaters and associated sludges, and the
selection, process design and operation of treatment works to meet discharge standards.
• To provide an understanding of the factors influencing the selection of the characteristics of sludge
utilisation or disposal routes and the effective operational management of each to meet
environmental and customer service needs.
 Water and environmental management
269

Anticipated leamin~ outcomes

From a knowledge of:

J. the natur of the se~erage retic~lati~n, the po~ulation equivalent, rainfall pattern and sewage flows
2. 7
~e ph~slcal, chemIcal and bIologIcal qualIty of urban wastewater including the domestic and
mdustna!components
3. the available wastewater treatment processes to meet discharge standards to sewer and to receiving
water
4. the methods of sludge treatment, disposal and utilisation to meet environmental standards and
customer needs
5. the measures to control trade effluent discharges to sewer to protect sewers, treatment processes and
the environment whilst providing customer service
6. the law and regulations governing urban wastewater, trade effluents and sewage sludge.

The student, at the end of the module should be able to:

I. critically appraise the existing procedures for trade effluent and urban wastewater management and
suggest improvements
2. by intelligent use of engineering and scientific principles, develop and undertake the critical
evaluation of alternative proposals and designs for wastewater treatment and sludge treatment
(utilisation and disposal) to meet environmental standards and customer needs
3. liaise with environmental regulators and customers on the control measures needed to meet
environmental standards.

Indicatiye content and teachin~ pro~ramme

• The nature of sewerage reticulation systems, the estimation of sewage flows and pollution load and
the concepts of dry weather flow and population equivalent.
• The types of trade effluent, their treatment and discharge control to sewers, including the roles of
water service undertakers and environmental regulators; charging for trade effluent discharges to
sewer.
• The nature of raw sewage and the design and operation of wastewater treatment plants to meet
environmental standards and avoid nuisance.
• The nature of sewage sludges and the design and operation of treatment and disposal systems to meet
environmental standards.
• Methods of sludge utilisation, the associated environmental controls and the operational management
of facilities.
• European and national; policy on urbll? wastewa~er, .the mode~ legal.frame~or~ governing urban
wastewater management, the responSIble organIsations and mteractlon WIth mterested parties,
including the variations between England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Study ~ide
A detailed study guide is provided for students to indicate the full scope of the module and the background
study needed for a successful outcome.