Embassy of Ireland holds Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme Induction Day

The Embassy of Ireland hosted a pre-departure day at the Ambassador’s residence on Tuesday 19 August for the newly selected Kader Asmal Fellows.

The Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme is part of Irish Aid’s programme of development cooperation in South Africa. It aims to contribute to addressing the skills shortage in South Africa particularly among members of previously disadvantaged communities through the provision of one year post-graduate training in Ireland to deserving candidates. It is named in honour of the late Professor Kader Asmal, Former Minister for Water Affairs in the first democratically elected South African Government and former Minister of Higher Education. Professor Asmal was also the founder of the Irish Anti Apartheid Movement and the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, as well as former Professor of Law at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

A total of ten Fellowships have been awarded for the 2014-15 academic year. Eight of these have been awarded in the sectors of Business Management; Agriculture, Food Science & nutrition; and Public Administration. Two specific targeted fellowships were also awarded, including a fellowship in the field of international relations/development and economics nominated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and a fellowship in Human Rights Law at Trinity College Dublin nominated by the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC).

The day was co-hosted by Mrs Louise Asmal and was attended by representatives of the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation and Higher Education and Training, CASAC and Business Ireland Southern Africa.