BETHLEHEM, 19 September 2005: The Master in International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) will be launched on 29 September 2005 at 14:45 on the campus of Bethlehem University in the West Bank. Supported by three prestigious European universities, this unique program is designed to empower persons, governments, development agencies and NGOs in reducing poverty, strengthening civil society, and promoting governance in public institutions.
Bethlehem University’s Faculty of Business Administration will offer the MICAD program, the University's first master's degree, with the active support of a wide network of local partners, including several Palestinian and International NGOs, United Nations agencies, and the Italian Cooperation Office. The first cohort of twenty-six students selected from the 183 qualified applicants is beginning MICAD courses this semester.
MICAD is promoted by the University of Pavia, Italy, in cooperation with University College Dublin, Ireland, and Radboud University of Nijmegen, Holland. The development of MICAD during an intense year of preparation was made possible by the generosity of the Italian Conference of the Catholic Church (CEI) in supporting the project proposal submitted by the Italian NGO VIS (International Volunteering for Development - Rome). MICAD is also co-financed by the Tempus/MEDA program of the European Commission.
The two-year MICAD program is offered on a part-time basis with the first year dedicated primarily to the study of development economics, international relations, social studies, and Middle East affairs. The second year focuses more on technical topics and the fundamental tools for designing and implementing development projects. All MICAD students are assigned an internship in cooperation with a partner organization and will produce a Master thesis. MICAD has been granted a preliminary accreditation by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education.
A press conference will be held at Bethlehem University on Thursday, 29 September at 14:45. The Apostolic Delegate H.E. Pietro Sambi, Chancellor of Bethlehem University, and Brother Daniel Casey, Vice Chancellor, will introduce the MICAD program. Members of the MICAD Scientific Committee and representatives of partner institutions will describe the features of the program. To insure proper space allocation, media representatives are asked to confirm their attendance.
For more information, contact:
Andrea Merli
+972-2-274-1241 x 2427
+972-(0)546-987680
amerli@bethlehem.edu
www.bethlehem.edu
