Participants of the Vi natural resources workshop held in Tanzania in July report success in applying the knowledge acquired on oil, gas and minerals to their teaching, research, and policy-related activities. The workshop was part of the Vi project funded by the Government of Norway.

"We were able to incorporate some of the topics related to module six (Mining and Economic Development) into the Mineral Resources Management MSc course material that we are developing," writes Salvador Mondlane, of Vi Mozambican member, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane. He added that in his role as advisor to the African Union, the Vi materials on oil and gas "are very important as reference for the meetings we have."

Virtual Institute affiliate member, St. Petersburg State University, is offering one partial scholarship for a student of a Vi university to participate in its three-week (July 3-20) summer course on Russian business.

The program, to be conducted in English, aims to provide advanced knowledge and expertise on the contemporary Russian business environment and the latest strategies and practices necessary to successfully "do business" in the country.

Deadline for applications is April 30.

The DAAD partnership with universities in developing countries on economic development studies has issued a call for papers in preparation for its third workshop scheduled for May 24-26 in Kampala, Uganda. The aim of the workshop is to further the debate on problems and opportunities of Least Developed Countries (LDC) from an economic perspective. 

Abstracts must be submitted no later than March 23.

The Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy & Services of the University of West Indies in Barbados invites Vi members to apply for the upcoming edition of its MSc. International Trade Policy (MITP), which will begin in September.

Vi members will receive a 25 percent discount off the tuition fee. The application deadline has been extended until February 28.

Azerbaijan State Economic University (ASEU) has become the first Virtual Institute member of the new year, and the 33rd country represented in our global network. ASEU also joins Belarus, Russia and Ukraine as the fourth transition-country core member.