Nurturing Quality,
Exemplifying Excellence
Pan African University
Institute of Water
and Energy Sciences
Student Guide
advancing africa
Student Guide
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the Pan African University
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2. Algeria and the city of Tlemcen 14
uu Geographical information
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uu The Algerian people
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uu Language16
uu Religion17
uu Culture and traditions
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uu Nature and climate
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uu Food18
uu Money19
uu Travel documents
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uu Tlemcen21
uu University of Tlemcen
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3. The PAUWES Institute
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uu What is PAUWES?24
uu Learning programmes
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uu Career prospects
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4. Academic matters
uu Study information
uu Academic calendar
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5. Academic information
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uu Libraries30
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Printing services
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Computer services & internet
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Eating on campus / at the residence
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Student transport
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Accommodation33
Rules and regulations
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6. Life in Tlemcen uu A brief history of the city of Tlemcen
uu Getting there and away
uu Everyday life
uu Cultural Tlemcen
uu Things to see and do
uu Twin cities of Tlemcen
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7. Extras
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uu Embassy contact details
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uu Contact Pan African University
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uu Contact PAUWES57
uu In case of an emergency
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uu Important telephone numbers
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8. German project partners
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9. Getting started
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10. Map of Tlemcen
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Prof. N. Ghouali
Bienvenue
à l’Université de Tlemcen
La rentrée universitaire 2014/2015 se caractérise
par un évènement de grande envergure à savoir,
l’ouverture de l’Institut de l’Université Panafricaine
pour les Sciences de l’Eau et de l’Energie (y compris
les changements climatiques) (PAUWES) qui est
situé sur le campus de l’Université de Tlemcen,
Algérie.
En plus de votre formation scientifique, vous
participerez très certainement à une aventure
humaine à travers laquelle le partage, la convivialité et le respect de l’autre constitueront la
force principale de la réussite. Nous vous souhaitons à toutes et à tous, une année universitaire radieuse.
Vous avez été sélectionné parmi de nombreux
candidats venant de plusieurs pays d’Afrique,
je vous adresse donc mes sincères félicitations
et vous souhaite plein succès dans vos études.
Il me plait aussi de vous souhaiter un agréable
séjour en Algérie en général et à Tlemcen en
particulier.
Le but de ce guide de l’étudiant est de vous accompagner dans vos premiers jours au sein du
PAUWES et de faire connaissance avec votre nouvel environnement scientifique ainsi qu’avec les
méthodes de travail préconisées lors de votre cursus. Vous trouverez également dans ce livret les
réponses à un certain nombre de vos questions
du quotidien que vous allez vivre dans notre ville.
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Professor Noureddine Ghouali,
Rector of the University of Tlemcen
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Dr. Abdellatif Zerga
Dear Students,
Welcome to the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences in the city of Tlemcen. I am
delighted that you have decided to join the PAUWES
to become the first members of this academic community of learners, researches and professionals.
As you may be aware, the PAUWES project represents a new stepping-stone in the field of applied
research and higher education in Africa. The current global energy and water crisis generated the
need for the development of a new generation of
highly qualified scientists and policy makers able
to address future challenges and support the sustainable development of African regions. At PAUWES
we understand that our shared ambitions for the
future of Africa, can only be achieved through
effective cooperation and technological innovation founded in scientific expertise and academic
knowledge. This is why we aim to promote excellence at curricular, research and management level,
translating our vision into real life possibilities.
PAUWES’ academic staff and its management
leadership are immensely proud to give you the
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opportunity to join a thriving learning community,
and are fully committed to establish an environment where both staff and students can openly
share their opinions and cultural dimensions to
enhance communication and cooperation at both
personal and academic level. The international
dimension of the PAUWES Institute represents an
important starting point for the development of a
social and professional network of those professionals that will be tomorrow’s leaders in scientific and technological innovation in the region.
We look forward to supporting your academic and
personal success at PAUWES and to welcoming
you as a partner in the strategic development of
the African continent.
Sincerely,
Dr. Abdellatif Zerga,
Acting Director of PAUWES
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Kyembe Nasser
Bienvenue and welcome to your
first year at PAUWES, Tlemcen!
The foreign student community in Tlemcen is excited that you have chosen to become part of our family. We hope your stay in Tlemcen proves to be one of
your most memorable and formative experiences.
We believe that studying at PAUWES is transformative. You will learn from international lecturers
who are at the cutting edge of new research and
are keen to share their knowledge with you. We
are sure you will have a wonderful experience and,
to help you adjust to this new learning environment, we encourage you to take advantage of the
foreign students’ community in Tlemcen, which
can help you settle in and get the best out of your
stay here in Algeria.
Your challenge now is to strike a healthy balance
between your studies and your social life. We trust
you will make the most of what PAUWES has to offer you, and we wish you an enjoyable, stimulating
and successful first year. Bon courage!
Kyembe Nasser,
representative of the foreign students’ community
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1. Introduction
to the Pan African University
Welcome to the Pan African University Institute
of Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate
Change) (PAUWES), a new and exciting centre of
excellence at the University of Tlemcen in Algeria.
Set up by the African Union Commission in 2008,
the Pan African University (PAU) is guided by the vision of an African continent managed by its own
citizens and acting as a dynamic force in the international arena.
PAU’s strategic vision is to develop centres of excellence in science, technology, innovation, social
sciences and governance that will together constitute a framework for world-class higher education
and research in Africa. This will promote the development of a new generation of leaders trained
to get the best out of African human and material
resources, and imbued with a common vision of a
peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa.
Five thematic institutes will establish masters
and PhD programmes and engage in collaborative
and development-oriented research programmes.
They will work with centres in other African regions and collaborate closely with the economic
sector and civil society to enhance their relevance
and contribution in relation to dealing with local
challenges.
The PAU network currently includes institutes in
Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Southern
Africa.
PAU is aiming to exemplify excellence, to enhance
the attractiveness and global competitiveness of African higher education and research, and to put African universities at the heart of Africa’s development.
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Algiers
Tlemcen
Algeria
2. Algeria and
the city of Tlemcen
Geographical information
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is
located in North Africa’s fertile coastal plain. The
country is boarded by Tunisia and Libya in the east,
Niger and Mali in the south and Mauritania, Western Sahara and Morocco in the west. Its southern
part includes a significant portion of the Sahara,
while in the north it faces the Mediterranean Sea.
The coastline stretches over 1.200 kilometres.
The capital of Algeria is Algiers. The country has
48 provinces (wilayas). Each province, district,
and municipality is named after its seat, which is
usually the largest city. It is the largest country in
Africa and the tenth largest in the world. The time
zone is UTC (+1).
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The Algerian people
As of a January 2014 estimate, Algeria’s population was 38.7 million. 90 % live in the northern
coastal area, the remaining 10 % are concentrated in smaller and some bigger towns in the ‘Great
South‘, the Sahara. The largest cities are Algiers
(almost 5 million inhabitants) and Oran (1.6 million). Tlemcen has around 200,000 inhabitants
and is the ninth-largest city in Algeria.
Language
The official language is Arabic. However, the Arabic used in official settings (classical or modern
standard Arabic) is different from the Algerian
Arabic that people speak in their everyday lives.
In some regions, for example the Kabylie, people
also speak the Berber language.
Due to Algeria’s history of colonisation, French is
widely used in official environments like schools
and business centers, in offices, culture, media
and in universities. Algeria is the second largest francophone country in the world in terms
of speakers. So knowing a few French phrases
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is definitely useful for daily tasks and getting
around.
Religion
Islam is the official religion in Algeria. Almost 99 %
of the population is Muslim. The Islamic faith provides the society with its central social and cultural identity and defines most people’s core
ethical beliefs. In Tlemcen, Muslim students can
join prayers at the Mosque and Christians have
church services.
Culture and traditions
Algerians are proud of their traditions. The family
is the most important unit of the Algerian society
and defines social relations. Everyone is treated
as a family member. Greetings are lengthy and
friends and family exchange kisses on the cheeks
as a form of greeting.
Nature and climate
Those of you coming from parts of Africa situated
to the south of Algeria will probably find the Algerian climate to be fairly different to what you are
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used to. Algeria’s climate varies considerably from
north to south. The country’s north – where Tlemcen is situated – enjoys a gentler Mediterranean
climate and temperatures. Summers can be hot
and dry, while the winter days are cold and come
with rain and sometimes even snow. As such, it is
advisable to have appropriate clothing for keeping warm during the winter period. For example,
heavy jackets and coats are particularly popular
on winter days and boots are an essential.
French tastes. The common Algerian dish and staple food is couscous, which is a national, very versatile dish. It is served in a variety of ways, usually
with lamb, chicken and vegetables. Olives, beans
and different cakes are also part of the Algerian
daily menu. Foods like rice, pasta, chicken, meat
and fruits are found everywhere. Tlemcen has a
fair selection of good restaurants serving mainly
French style food and classic Algerian dishes.
The highlands south of the coast experience hot
summers and cold winters with low rainfall. Further
south lies the Sahara where you’ll find extreme
differences in temperature between day and
night. In the spring months, particularly in April,
a warm wind can occasionally blow from the
desert. Called the Sirocco, it carries large amounts
of sand and leads to a sharp rise in temperature.
The currency used in Algeria is the Algerian
Dinar (DZD). American dollars and euros can be
exchanged at banks and post offices. At the time
of writing (September 2014), one US dollar will
give you 80 DZD, one euro equals around 106 DZD.
It is often better to bring euros or US dollars for exchange as it is sometimes hard to find a bank that
exchanges less common currencies.
Food
Algerian cuisine is a distinct fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines and also shows
the historical influence of Berber, Arab, Turkish and
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Money
ATMs are widely available and can be found in
every post office or larger bank. You can withdraw Algerian Dinar with any major credit card
and Maestro cards. If you must enter a PIN six
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numbers long, enter two zeros before you typing
your own usual PIN. Money transfer services
(Western Union, Money Gram) are available in Algeria. Most of the Algerian banks let you open a
bank account without any problem.
Algerians tend to count in centimes (1 DZD =
100 centimes), which can make shopping feel a
little bit adventurous in the beginning. Don’t be
surprised if, when buying a cup of tea costing
30 DZD, you are asked for trois mille (three thousand) – they mean the same thing and you will
get the right amount of change back.
Travel documents
When travelling in and around Algeria, it is mandatory to carry your personal identification – in
particular, your residence permit – with you at all
times. When undertaking any domestic travel, especially if you are going to a different city, it is always necessary to have these ID documents with
you. Also, it is important to renew your residence
permit before it expires.
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Tlemcen
The city of Tlemcen is situated in the northwest of
Algeria, close to the Moroccan border and approximately 60 kilometres away from the Mediterranean Sea. Its name derives from the Berber word
for ‘water spring‘. Its pleasant climate and Mediterranean flair, proximity to the sea, and cultural
diversity makes it an attractive city for visitors.
Centuries of rich history and culture have made the
city a centre of a unique blend of music and art. Tlemcen’s textiles and handicrafts, its elegant blend
of Arabic, Islamic, Berber, and Andalusian cultures,
and its cool climate in the mountains have made
it an important centre for tourism in Algeria. In
2011, Tlemcen was the capital of Islamic Culture.
For more information about what to do and see in
Tlemcen see chapter 6: Life in Tlemcen (page 36).
The University of Tlemcen
The Abou Bakr Belkaïd University of Tlemcen is the
host for the PAUWES Institute. It was founded in
1974 as the Centre Universitaire de Tlemcen and
in 1989 was raised as a university. With 42.000
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students, eight faculties and two elite schools for
Science and Technology and Economic Science,
the university offers an extensive, state-of-the-art
infrastructure for modern learning. The eight faculties include:
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In addition, Maghnia, a town located 40 km west
of Tlemcen, hosts a campus of the university.
The PAUWES Institute is located on the campuses
in Chetouane and La Rocade.
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Technology
Faculty of Law and Politics
Faculty of Languages
Faculty of Nature and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Economic
Faculty of Social Sciences.
The university has campuses in different parts of
the city:
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the city centre
Imama
Kiffane
Bel-Horizon
the new pôle (La Rocade)
Chetouane
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3. The PAUWES Institute
What is PAUWES?
The PAUWES-Institute is part of the Pan African University (PAU) – a project initiated by the African Union
as part of a broad, integrated system of higher
education for the African continent. In partnership
with the German government, the institute offers
graduate students access to leading academic
research and the latest theoretical and hands-on
training in areas vital to the future of African development – water, energy and the challenge of
climate change.
Supported by bodies within the integrated PAU
network system – including PAU institutes in
Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Southern Africa –
PAUWES attracts renowned international academics and highly qualified students from across
Africa.
The faculty and staff of PAUWES reflect the vision, objectives and quality standards of the Pan
African University system. United in their goal to
educate a new generation of African leaders, revitalize higher education and research in the region
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and invigorate the job market, the institute’s faculty works closely with students to develop their
expertise and support creativity and innovation.
Learning programmes
PAUWES offers two world-class graduate pro-
grammes in which students address today’s most
pressing development challenges. A secure water
supply and innovative, renewable energy sources
are vital for delivering future sustainable growth
on the African continent. The institute is seeking
to develop a new generation of highly educated,
well-trained students who are committed to the
spirit of this goal.
The two-year programmes at PAUWES offer a
broad grounding in both theoretical concepts and
practical skills. Students in the Master of Science
in Water and the Master of Science in Energy programmes choose between two tracks: engineering or policy. Three semesters of study are required, with the fourth spent on a master’s thesis.
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Career prospects
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A broad range of career opportunities
After graduation, students are qualified to pursue a variety of careers. PAUWES equips them
to become future leaders in their area of expertise, committed to fostering African solutions
for Africa’s development. Some may choose
to continue with a PhD programme. Others
become researchers in public and private institutions, consultants, public administrators
and experts in areas such as integrated water
resource management, sanitation and health,
water for agriculture, transport services or renewable energy.
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Applied sciences
All PAUWES’s study programmes also include
compulsory internships and learning through
hands-on experience.
A lifelong professional network
The international faculty and array of experts
from the public and private sectors and nongovernmental organisations lay the foundations for a lifelong professional network.
ultivating ideas – PAUWES Incubation Centre
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The institute’s business and product incubation
centre will offer students the chance to bring
their ideas to fruition. With the support of the
private and public sectors, students can develop
and nurture start-ups.
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4. Academic matters
Study information
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To graduate, students must complete 120 credits, with each credit corresponding to 10 hours
of teaching time. They must fulfil a number of
common course requirements, take specific
courses and two electives in their field of study
and write a master’s thesis.
Mandatory courses for both the water and energy degree programmes include topics like the
physics and technology of renewable energy,
policy and management of renewables and
water, and research methodology. In addition,
skills courses such as communication and entrepreneurship are provided.
Courses common to the engineering and policy
tracks in the degree programmes include physics and technology, economics, management,
policy and skills, featuring tools and methods.
Electives allow students to develop their knowledge and skills in the area they have chosen to
focus on in their studies. Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energies, health and sanitation, integrated water resource management,
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and water for agriculture are just a few of the
subjects on offer.
All graduate students must complete two core
courses, one in African History and one in Gender and Human Rights.
A broad variety of teaching methods are employed, including lectures, tutorials, practical
courses, seminars, internships and field trips.
The language of instruction is English. Students are therefore offered intensive English
language courses.
Students are awarded a joint degree from the University of Tlemcen and the Pan African University.
They have the opportunity to apply for a PhD programme upon completion of their degree.
Academic calendar
The semester starts every year on 1 October and
ends on 30 June the following year. There are two
holiday breaks: the last two weeks of December
and the last two weeks of March. The summer
break runs from 1 July to 30 September.
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5. Academic information
When you’re new in town, there are always lots
of things to organise and find out. To make your
life easier, here is some handy information on
day-to-day student life in PAUWES and the city of
Tlemcen.
Libraries
On every campus there is a library that is accessible from 8 am to 5 pm. Once you have your
student card (obtained at inscription) you can
borrow items from the library. Most items can be
borrowed for three weeks, some for one week and
heavily used items are restricted to a two-day borrowing period. The library also provides free access to the internet.
Off campus you have a large public library in
Imama. To get access, students are required to
present a student inscription certificate/card, residence permit or any identity document plus an
annual subscription fee of 500 DZD.
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Printing services
Copy shops and stationery services are widely
available on campus and in neighbouring residential areas, and also in stationery outlets commonly referred to in Tlemcen as libraries, from the
French word for bookshop. Services on offer include photocopying, printing and scanning, which
cost from 5 to 25 DZD per sheet, depending on the
job at hand.
Computer services & internet
PAUWES will provide you with a laptop computer.
The internet is available throughout the campus
and also off campus, for example in the halls of
residence. At the university, students can access
free internet connections in the library. There are
also computer rooms available for students, both
in the university and in the halls of residence. The
computers installed allow free and unlimited internet access, run on MS Windows and are equipped
with MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). In addition, there are also cyber cafés throughout the
city that offer internet services.
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Note: Commonly used French keyboards are in
AZERTY mode – not QWERTY. You may find it confusing at the beginning but you will get used to it
quickly.
Eating on campus / at the residence
The university restaurant, which operates during
studying periods from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, provides lunch for every student. You need to buy
a temporary restaurant ticket (in the restaurant)
that will cost you 1.2 DZD. With that in hand you’ll
be able to get your lunch. There are also cafeterias at the university to cater for students who
want fast food or hot coffee and tea at affordable
prices.
At the place of residence (cité), there are generally
three meals a day offered by the residence restaurant: breakfast in the morning (7 to 8 am), lunch
(11:30 am to 1:30 pm) and supper in the evening
at 7pm. The restaurant at the place of residence
is functional every day during studying periods.
During holidays (both short and long term), students must buy and cook their own food.
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Students transport
Orange-coloured buses transport students from
residence to campus or between campuses and
the service is free during teaching periods. Buses
operate according to the university schedule and
run every day of the university week (Sunday to
Thursday inclusive) from 8 am to 5 pm. The orange
buses are always available within a 15 minutes interval and take 15 to 30 minutes to/from university,
depending on the traffic.
Accommodation
The most common form of student accommodation is in the student residences (cité). This accommodation is provided by the Algerian State and
PAUWES for the first year of your studies.
In the places of residence students are provided
with equipped and furnished modern single rooms
with common bathroom facilities. The water and
electricity supply is reliable and free of charge. Algeria uses the French electricity system – if that
is different from what you have in your country, it’s
advisable to buy plug adapters for proper usage.
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In every residence is a qualified doctor to handle
minor health problems or for medical consultations. For major injuries or health issues please
contact the hospital (see “In case of an emergency”
in chapter 7).
possible, there are some detailed rules regarding examinations and behaviour at the university. These regulations apply to all students of the
Pan African University and, thus, also to those of
PAUWES. These rules and regulations are detailed
in the PAU Student Handbook.
A wide range of sports is offered in the residences,
such as football, basketball, handball and indoor
games such as pool, table tennis, gymnastics and
chess. Indoor games can be played in the Salle de
Sport every day of the week. Sports competitions
are regularly organised especially amongst different residences. For those who aren’t so keen on
sport: There is free wifi and a TV room.
Note: Female and male students do live in separate
residences.
Rules and regulations
A society cannot function without rules and regulations, and nor can a university. Therefore,
there are certain rules that you must observe.
Apart from the obvious rule to respect each other
and live together in the best and friendliest way
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6. Life in Tlemcen
A brief history of the city of Tlemcen
Tlemcen was founded by the Romans in the
fourth century CE under the name of Pomaria as
a military outpost. In the later eighth and ninth
centuries, the city became an important link in the
trans-Saharan caravan routes, making Tlemcen a
centre for trading and agriculture. This would determine Tlemcen’s historical role for almost all of
the next millennium.
Tlemcen became the capital of the Kingdom of
Tlemcen, which was ruled by the Zayyanid Sultans
for almost three centuries (12th to 15th century).
During the Middle Ages, Tlemcen not only served
as a trading city connecting the ‘coastal route‘
across the Maghreb with the trans-Saharan caravan routes, but also housed a European trading
centre which connected African and European
merchants. At the peak of its success, in the first
half of the fourteenth century, Tlemcen was a city
of perhaps 40,000 inhabitants. It housed several
well-known madrasas and numerous wealthy religious foundations, becoming the principal intellectual centre of the central Maghreb.
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In 1554, the Kingdom of Tlemcen came under the
protection of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the
country for three centuries. The Ottomans were
fighting a naval war against the Spaniards across
the Mediterranean, and the Kingdom of Tlemcen
became another vassal of the Sultan in Constantinople. Tlemcen and the Algerian provinces regained effective independence in their own affairs
in 1671, but Tlemcen was no longer a government
seat as before. The Spanish were evicted from
Oran in 1792, but thirty years later they were replaced by the French, who seized Algiers.
Tlemcen became a holiday location and retreat for
French settlers in Algeria, who found it to be far
more temperate than Oran and Algiers. The city
adapted and became more cosmopolitan, with its
own outlook on art and culture, and its architecture and urban life evolved to accommodate this
new way of living.
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Getting there and away
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By airplane
Tlemcen has an international airport in the
nearby town of Zenata (15 km north-west of
Tlemcen). Air Algérie flies from there to Algiers
and Paris. Aigle Azur has flights to Paris and
Marseille. Turkish Airlines flies from Tlemcen
via Batna to Istanbul. Oran, about 160 km from
Tlemcen at the Mediterranean coast, has a
range of international flights to Algiers, Europe
and Morocco. Algiers is the major link for flights
to sub-Saharan destinations.
By train
Tlemcen has a railway station and is well connected by rail to Algiers and Oran. There are daily trains to Oran in the mornings that continue
on from Oran to Algiers. You can find the train
station near the city centre. For more information visit the website: www.sntf.dz
By bus
Interwilaya buses drive from Tlemcen to other
cities and wilayas. They’re found at the bus
station Gare Routière Mechkana in the city
centre.
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Shared Taxi
Interwilaya taxis, or taxis collectifs (the yellow
shared taxis) found at Kiffane near the girl’s
residence Cité 19 mai. They also drive to other
cities and wilayas and are faster than buses.
Expect to pay a little more than for interwilaya
buses. The main destinations are Sidi Bel Abbes (two hours, around 200 DZD), Oran (three
hours, around 300 DZD) and Algiers (seven to
eight hours, around 1000 DZD).
Everyday life in Tlemcen
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Business hours and weekends
The official weekend in Algeria falls on Friday and Saturday. The general working hours
for banks, business and public offices is from
8:30 am to 12 midday and from 2 to 5 pm. The
university operates from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Sunday to Thursday.
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Public transport
White, numbered buses operate in Tlemcen and
they charge 20 DZD per journey. Another way to
explore Tlemcen is by taxi, which you can flag
down in the street (although they are most easily caught near bus stations). They charge between 100 and 200 DZD per journey within the
city. Also, Tlemcen host some taxi companies
that offer the possibility to get a taxi through
phone (see contacts under ‘Extras‘ in chapter 7).
Postal services
Postal services are readily available through
Algérie Poste. The Grande Poste of Tlemcen is
located right in the heart of town. In fact, when
you tell a taxi driver, you want to go to “city
centre”, he will drop you off in front of the post.
Besides the post office, there are DHL services.
The closest DHL service is located almost opposite the Grande Poste down the same street.
Cost of living
On the whole, Tlemcen students’ living costs
are relatively low during term time, owing to the
fact that the food and transport provided by the
university is subsidised by the Algerian State.
The cost of living becomes slightly higher during holidays and vacations due to personal expenditures on food and transport.
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Shopping
There is a wide variety of shops and stores as
well as daily open air markets which provide
variety of commodities ranging from foodstuffs, clothes and everyday-needs. The main
shopping outlets are within the city center.
The biggest shopping area in Tlemcen is
Le Grand Marché next to the Great Mosque
near place Emir Abdelkader. This old-fashioned market hall is open every day and you’ll
find there (almost) everything: bread, vegetables, meat, fish, spices and even living snails.
The prices for food – especially vegetables and
fruits – tend to vary from season to season.
The basics are affordable and are usually good
quality.
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Expect to pay …
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for bread (Algerian style): 25 – 35 DZD
for one litre milk: 45 DZD
for one egg: 12 DZD
for one litre of water: 25 DZD
for one litre of petrol: 20 DZD
Cultural Tlemcen
Located in the North West Region of Algeria, the
town of Tlemcen is noted for its flourishing vineyards and olive plantations, as well as its carpet,
textile and leather handicrafts. With its centuries
of fascinating history and rich culture Tlemcen is
a popular tourist destination.
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Communications
To officially obtain a SIM card in Algeria, you
are required to present an authenticated copy
of your passport or carte de séjour (resident
permit) for all mobile operators. In Algeria,
the three main mobile operators are Ooredoo,
Mobilis and Djezzy. You can’t miss their shops
when going to the city centre or in periphery
shopping areas. A prepaid SIM card costs between 200 and 1000 DZD depending to the operator. When you’re low on credit, you can either
top up (‘flexy’) in almost any convenience store
or buy prepaid cards from kiosks found in most
streets.
Museums
Visitors may want to take some time to explore
the different museums and historical buildings
located around the town, which provide an interesting overview of its history and culture.
The famous Great Mosque of Tlemcen (built
1102 to 1136) is one of the most famous structures in town. There are also superb oil paintings on display. Other sites of note include Agadir (the oldest
mosque, built in 790), the Citadel of El-Mechouar
(1145), Zianides Royal Castle, the Mansourah
(1299), the Craft Museum (1886), Madersa Archaeological Museum (1905) and Tlemcen Tower. Together, these house some of the most valuable
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surviving treasures – coins, paintings, ancient
sculptures and archaeological artefacts –
that resulted from the fusion of Arab and Berber cultures and Islam in Algeria.
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Sporting activities Outdoor and indoor sporting activities are organised by the university, although a variety is
also played at local club level. Sports on offer
include football, basketball, handball and volleyball. Players who wish to express their skills
and talent professionally are always welcome
to join different sports clubs in the city. The
Tennis de Mansourah tennis club (next to the
Mansourah monument) is a professional tennis club for pro and amateur tennis lovers and
often hosts international tennis tournaments.
Participation at the club requires registration and
the club is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm.
expectation that they do not. Some patisseries
and cafés have a family area (espace familial)
and it is here that women come to enjoy a coffee or a pot of the famous Algerian mint tea.
Cafés are also the place where many men go
to smoke and smoking is still allowed in public
places.
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Bookshops
Bookshops are found around the city centre
and in Imama. You can’t miss them! Book prices
vary from shop to shop, although a wide range
of books are very affordable. Some bookshops
are located close to different university faculties across town. They hold up-to-date stocks
and resources for students. Additionally you
can find there a broad range of newspapers
and magazines in French and Arabic.
Cafés
Cafés are found throughout the city and serve
as popular men-only hangouts. Although it is not
forbidden for women to visit cafés, it is a cultural
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The Institut Français
The Institut Français (IF) is a French public organisation set up by the French embassy in
Algeria to promote French culture in the country through cultural exchanges. The Institut
Français Tlemcen is located in the city centre
and offers a very diverse cultural programme,
such as cinema, theatre, concerts, discussions,
dance and performances. IF boasts a stateof-the-art library with French books, films and
music. You’ll also find a wifi hot spot there for
surfing the internet. If you’re interested in learning French you can sign up at the institute for
French lessons at affordable prices.
Palais de la Culture
Situated just 2.5 kilometres away from the city
centre in Imama, the Palais de la Culture (arts
centre) of Tlemcen is a prestigious venue for
hosting important cultural events in Algeria.
Also available at the centre is a museum that
displays different Arabo-Islamic paintings and
sculptures as well as a gallery shop.
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Students’ Cultural Day
On this day, both foreign and local students
showcase the different cultures of their home
countries through performing arts, music and
dance. This event allows students to appreciate and get to know the cultures of students
from different regions around the world. The
event is hosted by the University of Tlemcen.
Things to see and do
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The Grand Mosque of Tlemcen
Located at the heart of the city of Tlemcen
the city, this is still one of the Maghreb’s most
famous mosques. It was built under Sultan
Yusuf ibn Tachfin in 1082 but substantially reconstructed by his son Ali ibn Yusuf in 1136.
A dome and a minaret were added by Sultan
Yagmoracen in the 13th century. The mosque
is a remarkable architectural masterpiece as
a whole, however the Mirhab dome stands out
the most, given its highly innovative architecture. It is one of the oldest and best preserved
Almoravid buildings in the country and stands
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not only as a religious structure but also as a
piece of splendid architecture.
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The Tomb and Mosque of Sidi Boumediene
In this mausoleum lies Abu Madyani Shu’ayb Ibn
Al-Husayn Al-Ansar, commonly known as Sidi
Boumediene (1116 – 1198), who was a pre-eminent Sufi Shaykh of his time. He is celebrated
as the patron saint of Tlemcen. The original
massive bronze doors still stand, although they
no longer serve their intended purpose, to keep
intruders away. Nowadays the doors are always
open to let you marvel at the architectural intelligence and splendor of Sidi Boumediene, which
is by far one of the oldest and most beautiful
mosques in the country. A definite must see!
El Mechouar Citadel Palace
The word ‘citadel’ fails to properly convey how
imposing this fortification is, but, rest assured,
one glance at the walls of this palace will leave
you in no doubt: the walls of the citadel that
seem so impregnable in photos look even more
so in person. The Citadel was built by the kings
of the Zayyanid era to serve as a royal palace
and has housed all four of Tlemcen’s dynasties
(Almoravid, Almohad, Zayyanid and Ottoman).
Accordingly, it has been altered over the centuries with a couple of extensions and a number
of embellishments. The dynasties came and
went but the citadel remains to this day, ready
to welcome guests and share its prestige.
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Plateau Lalla Setti This place takes its name from the tomb of Lalla
Setti who was one of the most important women in the city of Tlemcen in the 12th century.
Plateau Lalla Setti, a distinctive mountain top
area, is connected to the city by a cable car that
departs from the beautiful park and botanical
garden called Grand Bassin. The cable car affords panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas, and helps you to understand how
the city is laid out. Upon arrival at the plateau,
there are plenty of activities to chose from: an
artificial lake with bobbing pedaloes and lakeside amusement park, a museum, horses and
camels to ride Maghreb-style, and a number
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of restaurants to dine in. Also on the plateau
is the notable five-star Renaissance Hotel. Just
opposite, the forêt du petit perdreau (small-partridge forest) is not only ideal for hikers but also
for picnicking. Whatever activity you choose,
the beauty of the place alone makes the trip
worthwhile.
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The El Ourit Waterfalls and Eiffel Bridge
The Pont Eiffel (Eiffel Bridge) is a metal railway
bridge that traverses the El Ourit Waterfalls and
was designed by the famous French engineer
Gustave Eiffel. The seven-stepped El Ourit Waterfalls, located in pine-covered mountainous countryside, were dry for almost 40 years but sprang
back to life in 2009. Both the Eiffel Bridge and
El Ourit Waterfalls are located seven kilometres
from the city of Tlemcen in Tlemcen National
Park. If you can, schedule your trip to the falls to
coincide with the trains passing over the bridge.
It is a marvellous sight, especially at night, as it
seems as if the trains are flying over the falls.
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The Ain Fezza Caves
The caves of Beni Add are about 18 kilometres
from Tlemcen and form a magical underground
landscape that reaches some 65,000 years
back in time. These unique caves are unlike
anything you will have ever seen, running to
a depth of 700 metres and containing a gallery and several well-lit chambers. Three huge
chambers – namely, the guardroom, the king’s
chamber and the sword chamber – are packed
with stalactites and impressive stalagmites,
some of which have taken on impressive forms
like ‘the Statue of Liberty’ and ‘the Shepherd
and his Dog’. The caves are breath-taking to say
the least and, as if that were not enough, when
leaving the caves you are bestowed with an exceptional view of the mountainscape.
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The nearest beaches
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Initially named after its creator Jean Baptiste Say,
Say Beach was first developed in 1905. Following independence, the beach was renamed in honour of the Algerian activist Larbi
Ben M’hidi. Both names are still used to this
day. The beach is 130 kilometres northwest
of Tlemcen and marks the border between
Morocco and Algeria. It is literally a stone’s
throw away from Morocco and you can observe Moroccan life without having to cross
international borders. Today, Marsa Ben M’hidi
is a beautiful, peaceful bay with several kilometres of fine sand and a small fishing port.
Plenty of beach activities are available including surfing and jet skiing. In summer, locals
rent out apartments and a range of hotels to
suit different budgets are available too.
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is bisected by the mouth of the debouching
Tafna River. At either end of Rachgoun beach
you can find two complexes that both offer
holiday bungalows and studio apartments.
Staring out to sea is a lighthouse that sits
majestically enthroned on Rachgoun Island.
Twin cities of Tlemcen
Tlemcen is twinned with several international cities.
The twin cities are:
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Granada (Spain),
Kairouan (Tunisia),
Jajmau (India),
Fes (Morocco),
Nanterre, Lille and Montpellier (France),
Kazan (Russia)
and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Rachgoun
This small seaside village is located 60 kilometres north of Tlemcen, near the city of
Beni Saf. Rachgoun beach is quite large and
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7. Extras
Embassy contacts
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Embassy of Benin
Phone: (+213) 256 5271
Embassy of Burkina Faso
Phone: (+213) (21) 92 33 39 / 38 41 Fax: (+213) (21) 92 73 90 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Embassy of Burundi (located in Cairo, Egypt)
Phone: (+20) 230 243 01, (+20) 230 243 02
Fax: (+20) 235 312 18, (+20) 234 419 97
Embassy of Cameroon
Phone: (+213) 21 92 11 24 Fax: (+213) 21 92 11 25
Embassy of Egypt Phone: (+213) 21 691807, -691673, -692548 Email: [email protected]
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Embassy of Ethiopia (located in Cairo, Egypt)
Phone: (+20) 233 536 96
Fax: (+20) 233 559 54
Email: [email protected]
Embassy of Kenya (located in Cairo, Egypt)
Phone: (+20) 235 92 159, (+20) 235 812 60
Fax: (+20) 235 807 13
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Embassy of Nigeria
Phone: (+213) 21916389 Fax: (+213) 21916388
Embassy of Rwanda (located in Tripolis, Libya)
Phone: (+218) 214 772 864, (+218) 214 772 865
Fax: (+218) 214 770 317
Embassy of Senegal
Phone: (+213) (21) 549 090 / 91 Fax: (+213) (21) 549 094 Email: [email protected]
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Embassy of Tunisia
Phone: (+213) 216 913 88
Fax: (+213) 216 923 16
Email: [email protected]
Embassy of Uganda (located in Cairo, Egypt)
Phone: (+20) 238 025 14, (+20) 238 024 84
Fax: (+20) 238 025 04
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Contact Pan African University
Contact PAUWES
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is located on the campus Chetouane Phone: (+213) 672 54 29 29
Email: [email protected]
http://pauwes.univ-tlemcen.dz
In case of an emergency
Public hospitals
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www.pau-au.org
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
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PAUWES Office
Hospital of Tlemcen
Rue Khemis Mohamed V, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria
Phone: (+213) 043 27 12 32 / 043 20 10 30
Email: [email protected]
www.sante.dz
Hospital Mère et Enfant (Mother and Child)
Mansourah, Tlemcen
Phone: (+213) 043 14 18 21
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Important telephone numbers
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Police
Phone: 17 or 1548
Civil protection
(Medical emergency and fire department)
Phone: 14
National Gendarmerie (especially outside cities) Phone: 1055
Support for children
Phone: 3033
Taxi Agency “Top Taxi” Phone: (+213) 043 21 51 51
Taxi “El Andalous”: Phone: (+213) 043 42 15 15
Taxi Agency “Benali”
Phone: (+213) 043 211 211
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8. German project partners
Since June 2011, German development cooperation has been working with the African Union
Commission (AUC) to develop and implement the
Pan African University (PAU). Its advisory services
to AUC focus on developing the PAU rectorate, establishing and coordinating PAU, and networking
with international partners. Additionally, German
cooperation is supporting the establishment of
the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change) (PAUWES).
The aim is to develop PAUWES into an internationally recognised institute that contributes to sustainable development in Africa through delivering
higher education and applied research in the areas of water, energy and climate change.
The German partners cooperating with the Pan African University are GIZ, KfW Development Bank and
DAAD.
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The German development organisation Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) mainly operates on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ implements projects in various fields such as education,
economic development, health and agriculture for
sustainability around the world. GIZ is currently
active in 130 countries around the world and employs more than 17,000 people (60 % of whom are
local contractors). GIZ is the lead partner of the
German cooperation in the PAU project with staff
based in Ethiopia and Algeria.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
The DAAD is the organisation of German universities and their student bodies devoted to internationalising the academic and scientific research
system. Through its scholarship programme,
the DAAD enables students, researchers and
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instructors to take advantage of the best study
and research opportunities available. It promotes
transnational cooperation and university partnerships, and is the German national agency for
EU higher education cooperation. The DAAD also
supports the international activities of German
universities through marketing services, publications, events and continuing education measures.
In the PAUWES project the DAAD supports the recruitment, selection and financing of academic
staff. It also coordinates the cooperation between
PAUWES and German Higher Education Institution.
finances scholarships and honoraria for students
and staff. It also provides financial support for infrastructure and equipment of PAUWES.
KfW is a German-government-owned development
bank based in Frankfurt. It was formed in 1948
after World War II as part of the Marshall Plan and
is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany (80%)
and the Federal States of Germany (20%). German
aid is structured so that KfW Development Bank
delivers “financial cooperation”, while GIZ delivers
“technical cooperation”. In the PAUWES project KfW
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9. Getting started
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ENGLISH
FRENCH
ARABIC
Hello / Good day
Salut / Bonjour
Esalamo allaykoum / Sabah el khayr
How are you?
Comment allez-vous?
Kayfa haloukoum?
My name is …
Je m’appelle …
Ismi houwa …
I am from …
Je suis de …
Ana min …
Yes
Oui
Naam
No
Non
La
Thank you
Merci
Chokran
Please
S’il te / S’il vous plaît
Min fadlika / fadlikoum
I am a student at the
Je suis un(e) étudiant(e)
PAUWES-Institute.
à l’institut PAUWES.
Where is the …?
Où est-ce que le/la …?
Could you please
Est-ce que vous pouvez
help me!
m’aider, s’il vous plait!
I would like to go to …
Je voudrais bien d’aller à…
Ooredo edahaba ila …
Bread
le pain
el khobz
Water
l’eau
el maa
Milk
le lait
el halib
Butter
le beurre
el zoubdat
Chicken
le poulet
el dajaj
Cheese
le fromage
el Jobn
Vegetables
les legumes
el khodar
Apple
la pomme
el toufaha
Ana taleb (taliba) fe maahad l PAUWES.
Ayna houwa …?
Hal tastatioo mousaadati min fadlika!
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22
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8
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19
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21
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Boulevard d
14
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BOUDGHENE
18
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°2
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66
9
2
i
6 Place Emir Abdelkader (city center)
7 Market
6
12
17
Al
4 City Hall
5 Post Office (Grande Poste)
11
1
7
dim
i
2 Bus Station Gare Routière Mechkana
3 Station Taxi
10
EL KALLA
13
le
1 Train Station
di
AGADIR
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15
8 Mechouar
9 Grand Basin
10 Grande Mosque
11 Institut Français
12 Maison de la Culture
13 Lalla Setti
14 Hospital of Tlemcen
15 Campus ‘New Pôle’, La Rochade
20 Way to Campus Chetouane
17 Ground Station ‘Télephérique’
22 Way to Airport / Oran
16 to Sidi Boumediène
(Cable Car)
18 Mansourah
19 Way to Ain Fezza,
Cascades, Eiffel Bridge
21 Stadium Akit Lotfi
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Pan African University
Institute of Water
and Energy Sciences
(including Climate Change) – PAUWES
c/o Abou Bekr Belkaid University of Tlemcen
B.P. 119, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria
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www.pauwes.univ-tlemcen.dz
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[email protected]
Edited by: PAUWES and GIZ, September 2014
Text: Belinda Dube, Kudzaishe Dzinoreva, Regine Kreitz,
Lillian Mana, Ronald Mukunde, Kyembe Nasser, Djawad Zendagui,
Mohammed Boudjela, Holger Radke
Design: www.kattrin-richter.de, Berlin, Germany
Photo credits: Michael Jung / Fotolia, University of Tlemcen,
Abdellatif Zerga / PAUWES, Holger Radke / GIZ, iko / Fotolia,
Olivier Le Moal / Fotolia, Paul Rommer / Fotolia, Mohammed
El Amine Hefhaf / University of Tlemcen, Creativeapril / Fotolia,
M.studio / Fotolia, Gabriele Maltinti / Fotolia, john michael
evan potter / Shuttersock, Michael Gajo / GIZ, PhotoSky / Shutterstock, Minerva Studio / Fotolia, lenets_tan / Fotolia, Piccia
Neri / Fotolia, Roberto Zocchi / Fotolia, ARENA Creative / Shutterstock, racorn / Shutterstock, Robert Emprechtinger / Fotolia,
Morphart / Fotolia, hiphoto39 / Fotolia, Kurt Kleemann / Fotolia, Florian Haas / GIZ, windu / Fotolia, illustrez-vous / Fotolia, Paul Maguire / Fotolia, wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock, Sonja Moissidis / GIZ, Thomas Bethge / Fotolia, knarf121 / Fotolia, EpicStockMedia / Fotolia, FloridaStock / Fotolia, bst2012 / Fotolia, ramzi hachicho / Fotolia, pat_hastings / Fotolia, Franz Pfluegl / Fotolia, Syda Productions / Fotolia, Rawpixel / Fotolia, DragonImages / Fotolia, contrastwerkstatt / Fotolia, bradcalkins / Fotolia
African Union Commission
Ministère de l‘Enseignement Supérieur
et de la Recherche Scientifique
Implemented by:
Université Tlemcen