Young Seychellois to pursue studies in Geneva |13 October 2011

While attending this course at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Ms Lawen will also study towards a Master of advanced studies in international and European security at the University of Geneva.

Both courses are covered by the scholarship obtained with the help of the Swiss embassy based in Nairobi, Kenya, representing the Swiss government.

Ms Lawen received her travel documents from the honorary consul of Switzerland in Seychelles Angelika Maurel during a short ceremony held recently in the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam.

The International Training Course in Security Policy is offered as part of Switzerland’s contribution to the Partnership for Peace.

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy assumes all direct costs linked to the course and provides the financial support for the Master of advanced studies programmes as well.

Living expenses in Geneva are covered by a scholarship offered by the Global scholarship fund comprising Switzerland and other member states of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy Foundation Council.

Mr Adam said the scholarship award is a concrete result of the discussions he had following the accreditation visit of the Swiss ambassador Jacques Pitteloud.

“We are very pleased that we can add Switzerland to the list of partners that provides scholarships to Seychellois students,” he said.

“The area in which this is offered in terms of security studies is one which is of great relevance to Seychelles at this time when we are looking at various threats relating to security.”

He added that the possibility to undertake the studies will be of great use to the development of Seychelles.
On behalf of the Seychelles government, Mr Adam thanked the Swiss government and look forward to the continued collaboration between the two countries.

Ms Lawen said she has received great help from various organisations here dealing with piracy such as the Seychelles Coast Guard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, as the main focus of her studies will be on piracy.