BONN, Germany, March 25 /PRNewswire/ --

- Training for African Executives in Development Research and Criminal Justice

On the occasion of the opening ceremony of the South African-German Centre of Excellence for Development Research and Criminal Justice, due to take place in Cape Town on April 2, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu will hold a ceremonial speech as the guest of honour. The centre is one of five centres of excellence which the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is setting up with the financial backing of Germany's Federal Foreign Office within the scope of its Aktion Afrika (Africa campaign). The centres of excellence in Ghana, Tanzania, Congo, Namibia, and South Africa are intended to enable budding executives to attend African universities at international level, preparing them for their tasks in, and serving, Africa.

The centre of excellence at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town will offer a Masters degree and a Ph.D. in the departments Development Research and Criminal Justice respectively. These courses will be conducted in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the Humboldt University of Berlin and the Institute for Development Research and Development Policy of the Ruhr University of Bochum. Both courses of study have a particular relevance for the African continent. Graduates of the department for Development Research are to learn how to master the region's economic, social, and political challenges arising within the development process.

The course of studies in Criminal Justice is just as important. A functioning criminal justice system is indispensable for the development of African countries when dealing with white-collar crime or coming to terms with past injustices. In this connection, the ceremonial speech to be given by Desmond Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his peaceful opposition against the apartheid regime in 1984, gains particular significance. In addition to Bishop Tutu, South African and German representatives from the education and research communities will also speak at the opening ceremony.

The linking of development policy issues and legal topics in the centre of excellence provides important joint research opportunities. In addition, networking with the other four centres of excellence is intended to provide synergy effects. Regular meetings between the representatives of all centres will enable an exchange of experience and a scientific discussion of common topics. In addition to Law and Development Research, the other centres of excellence are focused on Health Sciences, Micro-Financing, and Logistics. More detailed information is available at: http://www.daad.de/fachzentren-afrika/de/index.html.

Contact: Barbara Muck, Head of section for African Centres of Excellence and Special Projects, Tel: +49-228-882-746, Mobile: +49-160-89-80-730, e-mail: fachzentren@daad.de Dr. Dorothee Weyler, DAAD, Project Manager for African Centres of Excellence, Tel: +49-228-882-115, e-mail: fachzentren@daad.de

Contact: Barbara Muck, Head of section for African Centres of Excellence and Special Projects, Tel: +49-228-882-746, Mobile: +49-160-89-80-730, e-mail: fachzentren@daad.de; Dr. Dorothee Weyler, DAAD, Project Manager for African Centres of Excellence, Tel: +49-228-882-115, e-mail: fachzentren@daad.de