07.06.2011 - German Scholarships to 12 Namibian Students

Enlarge image German Scholarships to 12 Namibian Students (© German Embassy (HCM)) Twelve Namibian students of environmental subjects have obtained a German state-financed two-year scholarship within the framework of the SPACES programme (Science Partnership for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes). They were given an official farewell on 03 June by the Chargé d'Affaires of the German Embassy to Namibia in the presence of Undersecretary Simeon Niilenge Negumbo, Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The scholarships are provided and fully financed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Their objective is to obtain a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies at German Universities in Bremen, Kiel, Greifswald, Berlin and Cottbus. The participants left for Germany on 4 June 2011 in order to start with a German language course.

As a background to the SPACES programme, according to an assessment made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Africa is one of those parts of the world which are particularly vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. In order to assist Namibia and its neighbouring countries in the search for suitable solutions, the research programme SPACES was developed by scholars from the University of Hamburg, the Leibnitz Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology Bremen, and the German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam together with their partners in South Africa, Angola and Namibia. The aim of this German-African research programme is to develop science-based recommendations for decision-makers in the field of Earth System Management. This could include, for instance, suggestions for the installation of national parks in Namibia or for defining coast and sea areas at the Atlantic shore. To further these scientific links and ensure the sustainability of its projects, SPACES is aimed at involving Namibia's young scholars at an early stage. The overall objective of the SPACES programme is to allow excellent young scholars from Namibia recently graduated in environment-related fields to continue their studies in Master courses at German universities in order to make substantial contributions to the development of Namibia upon their return.

Enquiries:

Hans-Christian Mahnke

Tel.: 273 112