Learning, sharing, and shaping the future of water management
The world still needs better knowledge about water management, and about the many existing solutions we have for tackling water-related issues. The Advanced Water Cycle Management course addresses just this, and a fully-booked course was successfully completed last week. 26-08-2025
Once again, we were excited to again welcome a large group of participants to this year’s Water Summer School. On August 11, 45 participants from all over the world gathered at Låsby Kro, all eager to spend the next two weeks getting smarter on water.
At the welcoming introduction, Michael Ramlau-Hansen from AVK emphasised why this course is so very important:
"Water is not just coming out of the tap; it is so much more than that. It is the baseline for everything. And I am very glad to see that we are represented from all over the world. Because water is just not an European problem or an African problem. It is a problem all over the world."
Bridging the gap between theory and real-world application
During the two-week course, the participants learn about and explore Denmark’s holistic approach to the water circle, and get familiar with Danish innovations within water distribution, wastewater management, resource recovery, and water resource management.
The course programme is a combination of classroom teaching and teamwork as well as company and utility visits, networking initiatives and social activities - a mix that many of the participants point out as the key advantage of the course.
Getting to know us and our expertise
August 14, we had the pleasure of welcoming the participants for an afternoon full of fun and learnings within our area of expertise: quality valves, in their many forms and for numerous purposes.
Our Public Affairs Manager, Michael Ramlau-Hansen, introduced the participants to the fundamentals of a valve, what it can be used for, and how our many products make a difference in the world.
There was also time for a scavenger hunt in the showroom at AVK International, to search out some of our products. To equip the participants for the hunt, Product Manager Martin Børsting shared his technical know-how with the participants. The hunt was a great way to spark interest, and it resulted in a lot of good questions from the participants.
After a well-deserved dinner and break, Pia Jacobsen from Water Valley Denmark kicked off the evening’s theme: Water Reuse. First, Kristian Brunmark from Aarhus Vand A/S presented Nye, a new local urban district where rainwater is reused for toilets and laundry. Then Søren Nøhr Bak from NIRAS shared how Carlsberg reuses process water in a closed loop. And finally, Søren Duch-Hennings, also from Niras, explained Power-to-X and the need for ultra-clean water.
During the course, we have spoken to Liong Duang Sii from the water services supplier Quantum Puri Sdn Bhd, who shared his reflection:
"Being part of this course reminds me: water is invisible when it works well – but it's the foundation of everything."
Quantum Puri Sdn Bhd is AVK Valves Manufacturing Malaysia’s distributor in East Malaysia and the sole distributor of AVK water valves in Sarawak.
Besides visiting AVK, the participants also visited the SkyTEM, a global leader in airborne geophysical mapping technology, NIRAS (engineering consultancy), Kamstrup (meters), Grundfos (pumps), as well as different local utilities and treatment plants.
Prepping the world’s future water sector
The participants left Låsby on August 24 with their diplomas in hand, ready to go out and influence the water industry in each their part of the world. We are already looking forward to receiving the next round of participants!
Michael Ramlau-Hansen, co-creator of the course, shares:
"This year we have a fantastic team of students and water professionals from all over the world with great spirit and enthusiasm eager to solve water related challenges and problems. Thanks to all involved, I sincerely hope we have inspired to be a water ambassador."
The Summer School is a strong partnership between Kamstrup, Grundfos, DHI, Aarhus Vand A/S, NIRAS, I•GIS A/S, WATEC Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, Water Valley Denmark, Clean, Danida Fellowship Centre and AVK Holding A/S. All of these take part in the course, with each their area of expertise.
Photos: Alma Brinck Røen
