Global Water Challenge: Audencia Students Driving Sustainable Solutions

From March 17-20, 2025, students from Audencia’s MSc in Public Policy & International Cooperation and Doctorate of Business Administration programs launched the Global Water Challenge—an ambitious initiative focused on water issues in two European settings: the eco-district ZAC des Docks in Saint-Ouen, France, and a real estate development project by LATHEA Group in Cyprus.

The goal of the event is to raise awareness among students about the major challenges facing the global water market: ensuring there is enough water to meet the needs of all users (households and businesses), improving access to clean water, and encouraging responsible practices among both users and operators.

As Professor Simon Porcher explains in 'The End of Water?', "We must act on demand to reduce waste and develop, when appropriate, non-conventional water sources. A new paradigm is needed—one that balances demand management with the stabilization of supply."

In this context, Audencia students, supported by industry experts, are working on innovative solutions across four key themes, applied to the real-world projects in France and Cyprus:

• Public-Private Co-Design: Integrating resilience strategies into project planning to address water scarcity and excess.
• Sustainable Business Models: Identifying technologies and water-saving practices, including recycling, to improve operational efficiency.
• Community Engagement: Encouraging behavioral change through communication strategies, alternative business models, and water conservation projects.
• Start-ups & Innovation: Fostering circular economy solutions in water use and management.

This challenge offers students a unique opportunity to co-create solutions with real-world impact—preparing them to become forward-thinking leaders in environmental policy, sustainability, and global cooperation. Their work serves as a powerful reminder that the next generation of leaders is ready to tackle complex global challenges with purpose and creativity.