Graduation of Fellows 2019

24 October 2019
Lúðvik S. Georgsson, director of the UNU-GTP
Lúðvik S. Georgsson, director of the UNU-GTP

The 41st session of the UNU-GTP closed on Friday 18th of October, with 24 UNU Fellows in the six month specialized courses.  The Fellows came from 15 countries: China 1, Djibouti 1, Dominica 1, Ecuador 1, El Salvador 1, Ethiopia 2, India 1, Indonesia 3, Kenya 5, Montserrat 1, Nigeria 1, Philippines 2, St. Lucia 1, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 1, and Tanzania 2.  This is the first time Montserrat and Nigeria participate in the Six Month Programme.  The Fellows were trained in: Geothermal Utilization 7, Geothermal geology 5, Project management and finances 5, Environmental science 4, and Reservoir engineering and borehole geophysics 3.

From 1979-2019, 718 scientists and engineers from 63 countries have completed the annual six month training.  They have come from countries in Africa (39%), Asia (35%), Latin America (15%), Central and Eastern Europe (10%), and Oceania (1%).  Among these have been 169 women (24%).

At the ceremony speeches were given by Lúðvik S. Georgsson, director of the UNU-GTP, Yngvi Már Pálsson, Director General for the Ministry for Tourism, Industries and Innovation, Guðni A. Jóhannesson, the Director General of the National Energy Authority, and John Shriputda from Nigeria on behalf of the graduating class.

This session was the last one under the UNU brand as of 1 January 2020, the Geothermal Training Programme will join UNESCO, and furthermore, it was the current director Lúðvík Georgsson's last closing ceremony as he will retire at the end of the year.