Current technological development of the wastewater sector in Belarus poses challenges to find suitable ways for building up the knowledge of water professionals. UBC EnvCom led project LearnWater aims to launch the development of Belarusian lifelong-learning concept for wastewater management sector, so that it supports the competence building and sustainability of the investments on new technology.

The central among LearnWater actions was to introduce the German “Neighbourhoods” concept in Belarus by organising one pilot event in Vitebsk, Belarus, on 29 October 2014. The workshop focused on the topic of “Optimization of wastewater treatment processes in relation to energy efficiency” and consisted of expert presentations (Technical University of Berlin, Polish Water and Wastewater Operators’ Association) and a site visit to the Vitebsk wastewater treatment plant.

During the discussion with the representatives of 16 water utilities, and 5 technical universities, the organizers strived to find out what needs Belarusian wastewater sector currently have in training water professionals and how lifelong learning and experience exchange could be structured so that it would support long term development of the sector. Collected feedback will be used to evaluate how the German “Neighbourhoods” concept can be adjusted to Belarusian conditions and reflected in the framework paper “Lifelong learning concept in Belarusian wastewater treatment sector”.