33rd session of the UNU-GTP

The 33rd annual session of the UNU-GTP opened on Monday 2nd of May.   The Vice Rector of UNU, Prof. Takeuchi was an honourary guest at the opening. The opening ceremony was lead by the Director of the UNU-GTP, Dr. Ingvar B. Fridleifsson, and included a speech by the invited speaker, the Permanent Secretary of State,  Dr. Einar Gunnarsson. After the ceremony the UNU Vice Rector gave a presentation on the work of the United Nations University. This was followed by presentations about the UNU-GTP, the UNU Fisheries Training Programme (UNU-FTP), and the UNU Land Restoration Training Programme (UNU-LRT).

This year a record number of 30 UNU Fellows from 16 countries participate in the six month specialized courses. The Fellows come from Bangladesh 2, China 3, Costa Rica 1, El Salvador 2, Honduras 1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Kenya 9, Mexico 1, Mongolia 1, Morrocco 1, Nicaragua 1, Rwanda 1, Sri Lanka 1,Tanzania 2, and Uganda 1, and will attend training in Borehole Geology 3, Geophysical Exploration 4, Chemistry of Thermal Fluids 3, Reservoir Engineering 8, Environmental Studies 4, Geothermal Utilization 7, and Drilling Technology 1. In 2011, the UNU-GTP welcome participants from three new countries: Bangladesh, Morocco, and Sri Lanka.

During 1979-2010, 452 scientists and engineers from 47 countries have completed the annual six-month courses. Of these, 42% have come from countries in Asia, 29% from Africa, 15% from Latin America, and 14% from Central and Eastern Europe. Amongst these have been 81 women (18%). Over 90 professionals have received shorter training (2 weeks to 4 months). In many countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and Central and Eastern Europe, the UNU-GTP graduates are in key positions in geothermal research and energy development. The largest number of graduates have come from China (75), Kenya (53), the Philippines (31), El Salvador (30), Ethiopia (27), and Indonesia (27). Our records indicate that about 80% of all the trainees have continued working in the geothermal sector for five years or more after training, and the majority have made geothermal their career.

Twelve former UNU Fellows will be working this year on their MSc projects under the cooperation agreement between the UNU-GTP and the University of Iceland. Four former UNU Fellows (from Costa Rica 1, El Salvador 1, Eritrea 1, and Indonesia 1) started their MSc studies in September 2009 and are expected to graduate during the spring and early summer of 2011. Four former UNU Fellows (from China1, El Salvador 1, Kenya 1 and Rwanda 1) commenced their MSc studies in late August 2010 and  four Fellows are anticipated to enroll in August 2011 (from El Salvador 1, Eritrea 1, and Kenya 2). In addition two PhD Fellows from Kenya continue with their studies. All MSc and PhD Fellows receive Fellowships from the UNU-GTP. Twenty five former UNU Fellows have graduated since the MSc programme was started in cooperation with the University of Iceland in 2000.