Fellowships Programme for Students from Post-Conflict Countries
Source : Unesco
The Director-General launches a Fellowships Programme for Students from Post-Conflict Countries during the 20th Winter Olympic Games in Turin
12-02-2006 – On 10 and 11 February, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, attended the 20th Winter Olympic Games in Turin at the invitation of Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee.
During his stay in Turin, the Director-General signed with Mr Sergio Chiamparino, Mayor of Turin, and Mr Alberto Antoniotto, Director of the Master Course in Peacekeeping Management of the University of Turin, a Letter of Intent laying the foundations for a fellowships programme for students in post-conflict areas. Mr Staffan de Mistura, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, also participated in the ceremony by teleconference.
The main objective of the three-year programme is to provide education and skills in various academic and professional fields of study at Masters level that will enable disadvantaged youth from post-conflict countries to promote peace, democracy and human rights. During the 2006-2007 academic year, 10 Iraqi students will benefit from the programme.
“Today’s launch of the fellowships programme is infused with the spirit of the Olympic Truce,” said the Director-General at the signing ceremony in the Turin Municipality Building. “I am convinced that education is vital for the successful promotion of peace, tolerance, mutual understanding, human rights and democratic values in Iraq,” he added. “In this context, the Fellowships Programme in Iraq – a collaborative effort of UNAMI, UNESCO, the Municipality of Turin and the University of Turin – is a most promising beginning for this initiative, which I hope will go from strength to strength in coming years.”
University of Turin – Italy – Peacekeeping Management Program
http://www.peacekeeping.it/
