Tlemcen, Algeria: On 6 October 2019, the Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change organized the Graduation Ceremony of its 4th Cohort of MSc students.

The ceremony was graced by several high ranking officials including, the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, the Wali of Tlemcen, the President and Vice President of the PAU Council, the German Ambassador to Algeria, the Rector of the University of Abou Bakr Belkaïd (University of Tlemcen), PAU Interim Deputy Rector, the Director of PAUWES, Directors of PAU institutes, GIZ representatives, representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ and representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Other participants in this important event included senior officials and professors of the University of Abou Bakr Belkaïd, PAU Rectorate staff, PAUWES students and other invited guests.

PAUWES has proven to be a world-class recognized institution of higher education, with students making outstanding performances in world scientific events and competitions including:

- The Schneider electric Go green City in Atlanta where two PAUWES students won the first international prize;

- The Global Health contest in which five PAUWES students were selected as finalists in Geneva;

- The Tony Elumelu Foundation for which two PAUWES students were nominated as entrepreneurs of the year;

- The Solar Decathlon building, during which the Juajamii team from PAUWES was chosen among many teams in Africa to be part of the 20 finalists.

Taking the floor as the official representative of the African Union Commission in this event, the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, delivered a speech in which she started by thanking the Algerian authorities for the unreserved and exemplary support provided to PAUWES as well as the warm welcome granted to her and her delegation. She further expressed joy to be in the beautiful city of Tlemcen. She went on to briefly present Graduation statistics which are as follows: 66 graduands from 26 African countries of which 40 males and 26 of females.

She proceeded by presenting PAUWES’ achievements in the global arena, where the students of this Institute have demonstrated their strong skills and know-how in world-renowned and prestigious scientific fora. According to her, this is “a clear evidence that Africa through PAU in general and PAUWES in particular is ready and determined to take an active part in the international scientific discourse”. In the same vein, she congratulated PAUWES students on their achievements as well as the team of PAUWES for making this African dream of building a world class Institute a reality.

As highly skilled and competent Africans, she urged the graduands to work towards the development of the continent to which they are indebted, advising them to strive to better the lives of people around them so as to embellish the image of the continent.

Before concluding her remarks, she baptized the graduating batch after the late Prof. Mustapha Djaafor (the former Rector of the University of Abou Bakr Belkaïd ) who played an extremely important and decisive role in the establishment of PAUWES.

Students of the 4th batch of the Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences were trained in four different areas of specialization: Water Engineering, from which 16 students graduated (13 male and 3 female), Water policy from which 15 students completed their studies (8 male and 7 female), Energy Engineering that trained a total of 20 students (11 male and 9 female) and Energy policy from which 15 students graduated (8 male and 7 female).

The institute will soon welcome the 6th batch of students for the 2019-2020 academic year and pursue its task which in training African leaders and policy makers to be change makers and development practioners on the continent.

For further information please contact:

Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi

E-mail: BilampassiC@africa-union.org

Further media inquiries should be directed to:

Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Communication and Information Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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