DWA_World University Challenge

The student team from TU Wien secured first place in the 2026 World University Challenge of the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) at IFAT in Munich.
Photo: Jan-Philipp Burmann / City-Press GmbH Bildagentur

The University Challenge is organised by the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) and presents the “Young Water Award” to the winning teams. It targets young water management engineers in China (Shanghai), India (Mumbai), South Africa (Johannesburg) and Turkey (Ankara).

Studierende stehen konzentriert vor einem Laptop — The competition offers committed international students of water management and engineering a valuable opportunity to test their expertise in a team. Photo: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. (DWA), Hennef

The winning teams of the DWA World University Challenges 2025 in Shanghai were invited to a factory tour at Wilo China. Photo: Wilo China

The DWA University Challenge brings together teams of students and PhD candidates who jointly explore the issue of integrated water resource management. Their task is to equip a fictitious landscape with smart solutions for basic supply services within a specified time limit. The winning teams receive an award during the international IFAT trade fairs. The first prize is donated by the Wilo-Foundation: an invitation to IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for water, wastewater, waste and resource management, which takes place in Munich every two years. The students also have the opportunity, at the invitation of the Wilo-Foundation, to visit the Wilo trade fair booth and take part in a guided tour on the topic of water led by experts from the Wilo Group. The second prize always includes an invitation to a factory tour at one of Wilo’s sites abroad.

Photo Header: Jan-Philipp Burmann / City-Press GmbH Bildagentur

Our funding partner

The German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, DWA e.V., Hennef) was founded in 1948 and is the technical-scientific association for experts and managers in waste and water management from municipalities, universities, engineering firms, authorities and companies. The DWA defines technical standards, is active in standardisation processes, supports researchers, promotes training and further training and advises policymakers, academia and the private sector.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs?