As groundwater extraction increases worldwide, generating a range of economic and ecological impacts, many countries are implementing regulation systems to restrict groundwater use. Their implementation often remains problematic as a result of low compliance in set rules. Key to low compliance is the limited involvement of stakeholders in the setting-up of rules. At the same time, many factors make stakeholder engagement in groundwater management difficult. Furthermore, as groundwater debates focus mostly on limiting (current) groundwater abstraction, they provide limited scope for solutions bringing benefits to current water abstractors, making them de facto opponents to rule expected to negatively impact them. Our main objectives is to demonstrate that well-designed stakeholder processes can deliver socially-accepted management rules with higher chances of been complied with, thereby enhancing groundwater long-term sustainability. We focus on how effective stakeholder involvement impacts stakeholder groundwater literacy, develops capacity to think long-term and capture trade-offs, and contributes to developing innovative rules. We also investigate how a paradigm shift from narrowly defined groundwater management (limiting water abstraction) to conjunctive soil and groundwater management (managing "net water extraction" by bringing attention to (water) retention and recharge, including nature-based solutions) gives more chances to successful stakeholder process outcomes. Our research builds on: 1) a truly transdisciplinary approach combining biophysical and human sciences (sociology, economics, political sciences?); 2) strong stakeholder mobilisation from research design to the critical understanding of results; 3) the combination of context-specific approaches (7 case studies representing a diversity of contexts in France, US, Taiwan and Russia) and transversal (comparative) research ensuring collective learning and the identification of pre-conditions for successful stakeholder processes delivering socially accepted groundwater management rules.

The project, aiming at strengthening cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, addresses one of their common regional priorities – ‘Development of partnerships with enterprises’ which is on the lists of national priorities for both countries. The project is also consolidated by the shared environmental theme - a cross-cutting topic in the national and regional priorities for RU and KZ. The consortium includes 11 academic and 3 non-academic partners (2 enterprises and a research institute). It integrates both, experienced and new partners in EU projects.The wider objective is to contribute to empower universities in RU and KZ by enhancing synergy between higher education and enterprises in the field of Trans-Boundary Water Resources Management (TWRM).To achieve this goal the following specific objectives are envisaged:To develop a trans-institutional model for interaction between HEIs and enterprises in the field of TWRM;To enhance teaching capacities of the PC HEIs;To empower enterprises in the Water Sector in the PCs by developing support tools and staff training;To raise awareness of water problems;To create potential for internationalization.As a result of the project the following outcomes/outputs will be achieved:- a strategy for building ‘Industry–Academia Learning Partnerships’ and a methodology for TWRM developed;- an ‘Industry-Academia Teaching Task Force’ created and trained, the teaching environment at PC universities modernized;- new curricula and ECTS based courses in TWRM designed in cooperation with the industry ;- an e-learning platform designed and installed;- new modules in TWRM for industry in operation on a LLL basis and integrated into the curricula at PC universities,- supported by a digital library of course materials;- a Quality Plan for all project activities fulfilled;- wide dissemination achieved, including creating a water problems awareness in the society at large;- efficient management of the project implemented.