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Centre of Excellence in South Africa in cooperation with lawyers of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

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-Universität zu 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.

Further Informations:
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Werle
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Juristische Fakultät
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin
Germany
phone +49 30 2093-3311 and -3326
transcrim@rewi.hu-berlin.de
www.transcrim.org