
University of Twente is one of three technical universities in the Netherlands, with the specific profile to link technical sciences to policy and management sciences. The mission of the Department of Water Engineering and Management is to increase our understanding of the natural processes in water systems and the socio-economic processes that affect these systems, and to develop tools that can effectively be used to support the management of rivers, river basins, seas and coastal zones. The department has about 20 staff members and 20 PhD students. In a recent research assessment the quality of the department was evaluated as excellent or very good on all criteria.
One of the research themes of the department concerns the sustainable use of water resources. The theme is studied with a thematically and methodologically broad scope. The group is internationally leading in the conceptual and operational development of the Water Footprint and research on the application of water footprint assessment in water policy and water related behaviour, targeting public institutions, companies as well as consumers. The University scientifically supports the Water Footprint Network (WFN), a NGO devoted to further development and application of the water footprint. In a close cooperation, UT and WFN disseminate scientific findings and give contributions to policy debates at international water events such as World Water Forum and World Water Week.
The contributions of the University of Twente to MAGIC will draw on the expertise in assessing national, regional and global footprints and their sustainability, water footprints of agricultural as well as industrial products, water footprints of first and second generation biofuels, trade-offs between water and ecological footprints and integration of footprints, and on expertise in policy analysis targeting reduction of water footprints and their impacts, and integration of environmental footprints, including the role of trade. Insights of UT and quantitative tools developed there will give essential contributions to MAGIC in conceptualizing and quantifying water-related aspects of sustainability as part of the nexus. UT will contribute to the translation of MAGIC results to academic courses and e-learning.
TEAM MEMBERS

Arjen Y. Hoekstra

Maarten S. Krol

Charlotte Verburg
