Congratulations 2024-25 fellows
Today, 23 fellows graduated from the GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme, after completing a six-month training course, offered by the Icelandic government, as part of the country’s international development cooperation efforts.
The graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone, as the 500th fellow of the programme received their certificate. In total, 512 fellows from developing countries have now completed training at the school since it began operating in 1998.
This year's graduating class included 12 women and 11 men, representing 14 countries: Cuba, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
In their home countries, these experts work in various fisheries related fields – including stock assessment, fisheries management, aquaculture, quality control in fish processing in addition to lecturing at universities.
Julie Ingham, Deputy Director of the GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme, welcomed guests and served as master of ceremonies at the event.
Martin Eyjólfsson, Permanent Secretary, addressed the gathering and offered congratulations to the graduating fellows on behalf of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Lidia Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences; and Kristina Setiani from Indonesia, who spoke on behalf of the graduates.
Ms. Brito, in her speech, remarked that the fellows’ achievement during the past six months demonstrated their commitment not only to further their own knowledge, but to the shared future of our planet’s oceans.
“You make this commitment at a significant time, with global attention on ocean sustainability and related challenges” she said. “With the completion of your training here, you are ideally equipped to make an impactful contribution to the decade’s objectives of delivering the science we need for the ocean we want”.
Ms. Setiani, on behalf of her co-fellows, expressed gratitude to all the institutions and people that had made it possible for them to participate in the programme.
“Beyond the classroom and labs, we learned from each other” she said. “Through long discussions, shared meals, field trips, and late-night study, we found not just colleagues, but lifelong friends from across the world. These connections are among the most valuable gifts of this program.”
After the speeches, Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson, Director of the GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme, administered the presentation of graduation certificates.
He urged the fellows always to be critical of what meets the eye, to be brave when confronting challenges, to become “agents of change”.
He also extended his gratitude to the many individuals, organisations and companies that continually support the programme through their dedicated efforts and goodwill.
Special thanks were given to the school's partners in the Faroe Islands, FIRUM, whose strong support in recent years has greatly advanced the programme’s work in sustainable aquaculture.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held where the graduates presented their final projects to guests in a dedicated poster exhibition.
This news article was expanded on May 23rd 2025.
