Water is one of the most precious resources on Earth, the source of life for all species and the cradle of human civilizations. In the time water resources are gradually run out and polluted in many places but the demand for water supply for development is increasing, water training institutions play an extremely important role in preparing high-quality human resources, meeting the increasing requirements of daily life. Though there have been thousands of bachelors, engineers nationwide majoring in Water Supply and Sewerage Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Water Engineering - Water Environment, there was still great demand for employees in the Water sector, along with the majors in the field of Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering.

Every year, the number of candidates admitted to the University of Water Supply and Sewerage Engineering is about 500 full-time students and 100-200 part-time students. Only for the next 10 years (2021 - 2030), about 15,000 more bachelors and engineers majoring in Water Engineering are needed to work at water supply, drainage, urban environment, design and construction consulting companies, enterprises operating, managing and exploiting technical infrastructure systems inside and outside construction works, industrial areas, state management agencies from central to local areas.

To strengthen the connection and cooperation between universities and colleges in academics, scientific research, technology transfer, and community service related to water issues, on May 7, 2021, the Water Education Network (WEN) was officially launched online. The specific objectives of the Network are: Communicating more widely to society about the field of study, facilitating enrollment; supporting the training process and output for graduates; cooperation in undergraduate and postgraduate training, college-university linkage; cooperation in research, scientific publication, technology transfer, professional consulting services in the field of water - infrastructure and environment; enhance exchange, understanding, and sharing of experiences among colleagues, exchange of lecturers and students, trainees; strengthen cooperation relations between universities, colleges and enterprises in the water sector.

The network consists of 10 units: (1) Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Civil Engineering; (2) Faculty of Urban Environment and Infrastructure Engineering, Hanoi University of Architecture; (3) Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Faculty of Water Resources Engineering, University of Water Resources; (4) Faculty of Urban Engineering, University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh; (5) Faculty of Urban Infrastructure Engineering, Central University of Civil Engineering; (6) Faculty of Urban Infrastructure Engineering, Western University of Civil Engineering; (7) Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Faculty of Environment, University of Natural Resources & Environment, Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh; (8) Department of Engineering and Water Resources Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. Ho Chi Minh; (9) Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Faculty of Urban Engineering, College of Urban Construction; and (10) Faculty of Construction and Urban Management, College of Construction No. 1. The network is sponsored by the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association.

Also at the launching event, an Executive Board and a Secretariat were elected, with the Chairman for the first term being Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh - Head of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, NUCE, Vice President of Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association. The Vice Presidents include Assoc. Prof. Doan Thu Ha - Head of Water Supply and Sewerage Department, Faculty of Water Resources Economics, University of Water Resources; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Son - Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Architecture & Urban Planning, Hanoi University of Architecture; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Van Ha - Dean of Faculty of Environment, University of Natural Resources and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Anh Tuan - Dean of Faculty of Economics and Architecture, University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Le Duc Thuong - Dean of Faculty of Economics and Technology, Central University of Civil Engineering; MSc. Tran Thanh Thao - Dean of Faculty of Information and Technology, Western University of Civil Engineering; Dr. Nguyen Quang Truong - Head of Department of Economics and Management of Water Resources, Faculty of Construction, University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Vu Thi Hoai An - Dean of Faculty of Economics and Training, Head of Department of Civil Engineering, College of Construction and Training; MSc. Vu Linh Huyen Trang - Vice Dean of Faculty of Construction Management & Training, College of Construction No. 1.

After the launching event, projects on several sectors will be promoted, those can be named as following: cooperation in training professions, exchanging between schools, sharing experiences in building output standards, training programs of Water majors at graduate, university, and college levels; coordination in compiling textbooks and documents; coordination in carrying out scientific research projects, guiding researchers, writing scientific articles, compiling standards and regulations of the water industry; jointly coordination in deploying training courses for local water supply and drainage enterprises; coordination in finding solutions to improve practice capacity for students, practical knowledge for lecturers; coordination in building a digital library of the water industry (virtual water center) for teaching and scientific research, etc. The network will be expanded to schools, research institutes, and businesses related to the field of Water - Environment Engineering water market in Vietnam, and connect relevant partners in the ASEAN region and internationally, for the cause of human training and the development of Vietnam's water industry.