PUB, Int’l Desalination Association sign training MOU

SINGAPORE: The International Desalination Association (IDA) and PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in promising areas of training and education regarding water.

IDA recently launched its new Desalination Academy, which will hold its inaugural courses at this year’s Singapore International Water Week.

PUB’s Academy@WaterHub supports the training and development needs of Singapore’s water industry.

The possible areas of collaboration under the MOU include training and education in desalination and water reuse, and the organisation of IDA Desalination Academy training programmes held alongside key conferences such as Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) and the Saudi Water and Power Forum, Jeddah, where the academy will hold its next set of training courses.

The MOU also allows PUB to tap into the roster of Master Teachers who are members of the IDA Desalination Academy’s faculty for desalination and water reuse training courses for the Asia—Pacific region.

Likewise, PUB will provide speakers to share insights into Singapore’s Public—Private—Partnership approach on Desalination or Water Reuse in IDA’s training courses and host technical tours to PUB facilities.

Patricia A. Burke, IDA’s Secretary General, said: "IDA and PUB have established a long—standing, valued and close working relationship.

"We look forward to exploring ways to further strengthen our alliance through educational programmes that will benefit both Singapore and the international desalination community."

Mr Ng Han Tong, director of WaterHub at PUB, said: "This collaboration will tap on the synergies between IDA and PUB to bring more training and development opportunities for the global water community, particularly in the areas of desalination and water reuse practices and technologies. We welcome IDA to conduct courses at WaterHub."

— CNA/fa