Cross-border network for knowledge transfer and innovative development in wastewater treatment

Water pollution can be defined as any unwanted action that having a proven negative effect on the environment, life quality and health. Water pollution is identified as one of the European Parlament and European Council enalbles the definition of actions for avoiding, preventing and reducing the basic detrimental effects. Hungary as EU member state has valuable experience in addressing the problems related to wastewater treatment. Concerned the sustainability of the project it is planned the continuous knowledge transfer to students of and former (employed in industry) students of UNS TFNS and SZTE MK. At the same in the view of Serbias closer ties to the EU and in the view of regional cross-border development, increasing quality of knowledge transfer in wastewater treatment in cross border region should be expanded in Serbia. Hungary is a perfect partner to share its wastewater treatment experience with students in Serbia and vice versa. The partership will be set up between the Faculty of Tehcnology (Novi Sad) and Faculty of Engineering Szeged), each of them developing as a result a sustainable knowledge transfer in wastewater treatment in the future. The project benefits are mainfold: it will assist Serbia in complying with EU directives on water protection and will expand this in Hungary region. It will benefit the professors and students of UNS TFNS and SZTE MK, it wiill ensure a mechanism experience sharing between two countries, and more, it will facilitate the establishment of good neighbourly relations.

Degradation of the environment is a problem of vital importance, while the low level of protection is alarming. The prevention of further environmental pollution through, among other actions, the eficient treatment of wastewater can help ensure emission of wastewater within limit values of pollutants. It is one, but crucial factor in achieving environmental quality standards. The border region between Hungary and Serbia is a hub for food production industry. Researchers and industry together can find new solutions to the problems of wastewater, yet the cooperation among them often appears to be sporadic at best. This project aimed at changing this by emphasizing the cooperation between universities and industry. The Faculty of Technology from Novi Sad and Faculty of Engineering from Szeged involved their students in industrial laboratory practice and research. These future engineers and experts will manage the work and improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants. In the scope of the project 100 students from both faculties improved their knowledge about wastewater treatment and water protection through joint trainings and direct participation in laboratory research. The professors from Szeged and Novi Sad together developed the courses for students, thus ensuring the harmonization of the teaching material and methods and knowledge transfer in the field of wastewater treatment. After upgrading the laboratory equipment for exercises and practical research in the field of biological wastewater treatment, students from Hungary and Serbia together learnt about the new methods. The students worked on the wastewater samples obtained from the factories operating in the region. During the series of joint student meetings they presented their research to the audience of their peers and professors. Team building afternoons and joint excursions proved to be equally important parts of these encounters, as they enabled the participants to learn about each other’s cultures and make new friendships. The enthusiasm of the professors yielded its results quite soon as the first significant results became quickly viisible: the first publications were published in acknowledged scientific journals, while the number of applications of prospective students to the two faculties increased. This, in turn, contributes to the reduction of natural water pollution and to healthier lives of the inhabitants in the cross-border regions in the long term. The number of future engineers and experts well-prepared to work in the treatment plants for both urban and industrial wastewaters can greatly improve the quality of water, soil and environment.