26 June - 8 July 2005

Summer Academy in Tajikistan Background The Partnership for Peace The first NATO-sponsored Summer Academy in the Varzob District of Tajikistan was held on 26 June to 8 July for students from Central Asia and Russia aiming to enter the sphere of international relations and diplomacy. The Academy, implemented by the Information, Education and Cultural Center, Vector Intellect, delivered eight lectures and one practical workshop a day on issues such as the integration of Central Asian countries, the struggle against international terrorism and the Partnership for Peace programme. The two week course ended with students defending their international relations diplomas through written and oral examinations in both Russian and English. This highly interactive and intensive programme attracted lecturers from all levels of the diplomatic community, state officials, including the Deputy Ministers of Education and Justice and the Deputy Meyer of Dushanbe, academics and press and media officials. The aim of the Summer Academy was to: interest students in international and diplomatic affairs, ensure access to high quality information in the fields of politics and economics, provide an opportunity to share international experience and knowledge, and engage in serious discussions with representatives of Tajik government, diplomatic community and local and international academics. As a follow-on to the Academy, the students decided to open their own website entitled: “Summer Academy Students” where they will continue to exchange their views. The project was also co-sponsored by the OSCE and the Embassy of France.