Tlemcen, 28 September 2017: The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES) celebrated the graduation of its second class of Masters’ degree students in both Engineering and Policy tracks. A total of 47 students from 21 African countries have received their MSc. Degrees during a graduation ceremony held at the University of Tlemcen. The graduating students and their guests were welcomed and addressed by official representatives of the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria and dignitaries from across Africa and Europe, including Her Excellency Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, the new African Union Commissioner for Human Resources , Science and Technology, His Highness Mr Benyaiche Ali, the governor of Wilaya of Tlemcen, Her Highness Prof. Louiza Cherifi, the representative of Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Tolly Mbwette, President of the Pan African University Council, His Excellency Mr. Michael Zenner, the German Ambassador to Algeria , His Excellency Mr. Solomon Abbe, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Algeria, and His Excellency Mr. Moi Lemoshira, the Kenyan Ambassador to Algeria.
This year’s graduating students will join the next generation of African engineers and policymakers committed to addressing the burning issues critical to Africa’s sustainable development. They have not only successfully completed their coursework requirements, but have conducted practice-oriented research for their master theses based on a multitude of case studies that address the water, energy, and climate-related challenges facing Africa . In order to gain a trans-continental perspective of those same challenges, the PAUWES students have also completed international internships in the private and public sectors at renowned research institutions across Africa and beyond. Besides focusing on their studies, the students of the Class of 2017—with the support of PAUWES management—launched the first student-lead clubs, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club and the Community of Practice (CoP), which have contributed to the overall sense of community and leadership that the Pan African University strives to promote.

This cohort of graduating students represents and fulfils one of the key objectives of the Pan African University (PAU)—which is to foster an African learning environment of the most qualified and motivated scholars while revitalizing and nurturing the quality of African higher education. Not only are 21 African Union member states and eleven female students represented in the Class of 2017, but this diverse cohort of students had the opportunity to study under an international faculty of over 100 professors and researchers from across Africa and the world.
Supported by the African Union Commission, the Pan African University, the University of Tlemcen and the key and thematic partner—Germany, the Class of 2017 is well positioned to play leading roles in public administration, policy-making, research, technology, private enterprise, and civil society. The PAUWES 2017 Class Booklet is available to showcase this year’s graduates and the Pan African University is very pleased to invite future employers to meet them.
PAUWES will proudly welcome a most diverse cohort ever this coming fall as 70 students from 31 African countries will join the PAUWES family as the incoming Class of 2019.
For further information contact:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org | and | Pan Africa University | Email: HeromenA@africa-union.org
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