Afghan professionals benefitting from ITEC fellowships

The Institute of Applied Manpower Research (IAMR) Planning Commission is offering short term training programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme to Afghan students.

India's comprehensive effort to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan is encompassed through various developmental programmes like ITEC which is sponsored by Ministry of External Affairs.

The ITEC fellowship programme has turned out to be a pathfinder for many Afghan students with the enriching knowledge acquired in the course module. The ITEC programme is fully funded by Government of India, including international airfare, boarding, lodging, tuition fees, etc. These programmes aim to enhance the qualification and skills of persons who are already employed in government establishments.

"ITEC programme response to the needs of all developing countries and especially among the poorest country among the developing group is Afghanistan is among the least developed countries and we have very close ties with Afghanistan. So it is very much responsive to and gear to the needs of mid-level executives in Afghanistan. We constantly have an inflow of Afghan students" said Santosh Mehrotra, Director General of the Research Institute of Planning Commission

Training or capacity building is one of the major activities under ITEC. The professionals and people from developing countries are offered unique training courses, both civilian and defense, in different centers of excellence in India which empower them with not just in professional skills, but prepare them for an increasingly globalized world.

Sayed Ahmad Shah Samadi, who heads the procurement department in the civil service institute in Afghansitan, is pursuing his Masters degree in Human Resource and Development.

"On behalf of my people on behalf of my country I extend my gratitude and thanks to the government of India and people of India to provide such a good opportunity to study in India. I am getting benefited from the master's course. It's not only me there are lots of afghan students studying in India. "said, Sayed Ahmad Shah Samadi, a student pursuing a Master's Degree in human resource and development.

ITEC is a bilateral programme and under ITEC and its corollary the Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Programme (SCAAP), 156 countries in Asia, Africa, East Europe, Central and Latin America, Pacific and Small Island countries are invited to share in the Indian development experience acquired for over five decades now. India spends a substantial amount annually on ITEC activities.

"The Afghans gets a very international atmosphere in an environment when they study with us fully paid off so obviously they go back very satisfied. This is the reason we have been getting special demands from them to do special courses just for Afghanistan" said Mehrotra.

The Institute of Applied Manpower Research (IAMR) enrolls some 70 students from across the globe. It organizes recreational tours for students to make them aware about India's cultural diversity in the country. The institute gives special attention to students from Afghanistan. The course module is extremely enriching for the Afghan professionals and they return to their countries with vast knowledge. (ANI)

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