UNCTAD-MzU tie proves fruitful

Aizawl, Feb 15(UNI) Eight research scholars and two lecturers of Mizoram University (MzU) will attend a seminar on 'moving forwards gender sensitization of trade policy' to be organised by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade &Development), in New Delhi on February 25-27.

This is a follow-up to a partnership agreement signed between UNCTAD and MzU on December 19, 2007 for a project of 'enhancing trade related research capacity amongst university&individual researchers'.

An MzU source today said Rs 25 lakh has been allocated for the first year of the two-year project which has Prof Lianzela of the varsity as the project director.

Depending on the performance in the first year, the UNCTAD will allocate about Rs 22 lakh in the second year, Prof Lianzela said today.

For the first activity under the project, a seminar on 'introduction to trade data base and modeling of international trade' was jointly organised by UNCTAD and MzU on December 19, 2007 for the benefit of PG teachers, research scholars and college lecturers who were given lectures by resources persons from UNCTAD (Geneva, India) and professors from Jadahvpur and Manipur University. Three doctoral researchers were awarded a one-year fellowship at the rate of Rs 12000 per month per person with effect from January 1, 2008.

Another programmes under the project include conducting summer school for 25 participants during May, organising international seminar, special lectures, etc.

This project is expected to be of great benefit to PG teachers, researchers, teachers of MzU in particular and the people of Mizoram as a whole, Lianzela said.

UNI ZS KK DB2008