The Coca-Cola Company

Company Partners With World's Leading Institute For Water Education

October 6, 2006 edition

On September 29, The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO-IHE -- an internationally recognized institute for water education -- to jointly promote training and knowledge-sharing among the world’s foremost water scholars and professionals.

Based in the Netherlands, UNESCO-IHE is committed to educating professionals and building the capacity of sector organizations, knowledge centers and other institutions in the fields of water and the environment. Since its inception in 1957, UNESCO-IHE has provided postgraduate education to more than 13,000 engineers and scientists from developing or transitional countries.

Under the agreement, our Company and UNESCO-IHE will work together to promote the exchange of key learnings and experiences among individual staff members, functional groups and institutes.

The partnership is an affirmation of our global system’s commitment to the UN Global Compact. The multi-year agreement covers these specific components:
  • Networking
    TCCC and UNESCO-IHE will promote and facilitate access to their respective networks of individuals and organizations.
  • Training Program
    Water professionals throughout the Coca-Cola system will have access to UNESCO-IHE training courses on water quality, water/wastewater treatment technologies and water chemistry/analysis.
  • Guest Lecturing
    Experts from the Coca-Cola system will deliver guest lectures as part of the UNESCO-IHE educational program.
  • Joint Research
    Both parties will identify opportunities to co-supervise joint Master of Science (MSc)/Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research programs.
  • Field Trips
    UNESCO-IHE will organize site visits to Coca-Cola system facilities throughout Europe as part of its educational programs.
  • Capacity-Building Projects
    UNESCO-IHE and TCCC will recruit third-party water experts to participate in educational initiatives, such as refresher courses for UNESCO-IHE alumni.
  • UNESCO-IHE Fellowship Fund
    TCCC will contribute to a fellowship fund that enables students from developing and transitional countries to study at UNESCO-IHE. The Company will sponsor five fellowships per academic year for at least the next four years.
UNESCO -- the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization -- provides a forum for its 188 Member States to discuss and decide upon policies and actions related to the development and dissemination of knowledge in its fields of competence. For the last five years, UNESCO-IHE has been an integral part of UNESCO as a Category 1 Center of Excellence.