Congratulations UNU-FTP fellows 2014/15
On Monday March 23, 2015, the UNU-FTP celebrated the graduation of the 17th cohort of the six month training in Iceland.
In this distinguished group of graduates were 19 experts from 15 countries. Fellows joined the programme this year from Africa (5), the Caribbean (5), Asia (5), and Europe (1). Of the 19 graduates, 9 were women, in line with the gender policy of the UNU-FTP. There were three areas of focus offered by the UNU-FTP this year, including Stock Assessment, Sustainable Aquaculture, and Quality Management in Fish Handling and Processing. A wide array of individual research projects in these areas were undertaken by the fellows. Through their training in Iceland, UNU-FTP fellows tackle issues of pressing importance to their home countries, and are well positioned to take on leadership roles when they return home.
At the graduation ceremony, speeches were made by Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, as well as Johann Sigurjonsson, the Director of the Marine Research Institute and Chairman of the Board of the United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme. An address was also given on behalf of the UNU-FTP fellows by Jullan DeFoe from Dominica.
The UNU Fisheries Training Programme has grown in recent years and has increased its activities in partner countries. In addition to the six month training each year, the UNU-FTP develops and delivers short courses in collaboration with local experts and former fellows and offers support to conferences in the field of fisheries. The UNU-FTP also makes scholarships to attend Icelandic universities available on a competitive basis for former fellows who wish to pursue Master's and PhD degrees in fisheries related fields.
Since the UNU-FTP began operations in 1998, 305 experts completed the six-month training program from over 50 countries and more than 1,000 people have participated in short courses in the partner
countries. These activities are undertaken with the aim to strengthen expertise in the partner countries and fisheries organizations. The UNU-FTP places an emphasis on acquisition and development of
knowledge and research useful to policy-making in fisheries.
The UNU is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the development of Iceland. The UNU-FTP is overseen by the MRI, in close cooperation with the Matis, University of Iceland,
University of Akureyri and the Holar University College. Success of the UNU-FTP over the years is not least due to good cooperation with a number of agencies in Iceland and in fisheries, and a large
part of the training program involves visits to various fisheries companies.
We wish the UNU-FTP fellows 2014/15 all the best, and look forward to watching them accomplish great things upon their return home. Congratulations, and good work!