The second edition of the INDONESIA WATER CHALLENGE took place in Semarang from November 2016 until March 2017. Under the theme Blue-Green Cities, participants were challenged to develop their vision on the resilient and sustainable development of Semarang, focusing on the historic centre of Kota Lama, the Kali Semarang River and Tanjung Mas Port.
Following a two-week campus roadshow and an intensive selection process, 26 talented students and young professionals were selected to join the program, representing a rich mix of disciplines, such as urban planning, water resources management, ocean engineering and architecture.
Young City Leaders Academy – Design Charrette
The program kicked-off with a 3-day Young City Leaders Academy in Semarang, challenging the participants to gain insight in the local problems and develop their initial directions for solutions. A so-called Design Charrette approach was followed that encouraged participants to approach the cases from an integrated and multidisciplinary perspective and use drawing as their main form of expression.
The program consisted of expert presentations, community visits, field trips, drawing workshops and presentations. A team of 10 international and Indonesian experts supported the program as mentors for the teams, sharing their knowledge and experience with the aspiring city leaders.
A special moment for everyone was a meet and greet with Indonesian Minister of Public Works Dr Basuki Hadimuljono, Dutch Prime Minister Mr. Mark Rutte and Central Java Governor Dr Ganjar Pranowo.
Young City Leaders Academy – Grand Final
Following the first phase of the program, the teams worked from their own campuses to further develop their concepts for a Blue-Green Semarang, supported by the team of mentors. The BlueSpring platform provided each team with their own online workspace to share information and discuss with their mentors.
During the Grand Final on 30 March 2017, all teams gathered in Semarang again to finalise and present their concepts and solutions to senior representatives from the Indonesian government, Semarang city officials as well as local residents and business owners, followed by the Award Ceremony and network reception.
