Governance of transboundary basins: proposal for integration into Algerian University curricula

ABSTRACT Transboundary water governance and hydrodiplomacy represent pressing challenges for Algeria, where water scarcity and reliance on shared resources require cooperative and sustainable management approaches. Yet, despite international recognition of their importance, these themes remain marginal in Algerian higher education. A recent survey of the academic community highlights this gap, revealing that more than three-quarters of respondents had no exposure to hydrodiplomacy in their curricula, while nearly 80% expressed a strong interest in developing related skills in negotiation, governance, and international water law. The findings also show that over 60% of participants lacked sufficient knowledge of transboundary water systems, pointing to a significant mismatch between awareness and actual expertise. At the same time, there is a clear political and academic willingness to address this shortfall by integrating water governance and hydrodiplomacy into university programs. Expanding curricula through new courses, interdisciplinary training, and international partnerships could help fill existing gaps in resources and expertise. Such initiatives would strengthen national capacity for water governance, foster regional cooperation, and support sustainable management of Algeria's critical transboundary water resources. Furthermore, this study also aims to emphasize its strategic importance in the current regional and national context.