Satellites Reveal Differences In Sea Level Rises

by Phillip F. Schewe from Inside Science News Service

WASHINGTON (ISNS) - Glaciers are retreating and parts of the ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica are melting into the ocean. This must result in a rise in sea level, but by how much? 

New maps show rise in sea level greater in some places than others
Relative sea-level change rates in millimeters per year.
Credit: GRACE

A new measurement of the gravity everywhere around the globe with a pair of orbiting satellites provides the first ever map detailing the rises across different parts of the globe.

According to the new results, the annual world average sea level rise is about 1 millimeter, or about 0.04 of an inch.  In some areas, such as the Pacific Ocean near the equator and the waters offshore from India and north of the Amazon River, the rise is larger.

In some areas, such as the east coast of the United States, the sea level has actually dropped a bit over the past decade.

The surface of the sea is a constantly shifting fabric. To achieve a truer sense of how much the sea is changing in any one place, scientists measure the strength of gravity in that place. Measuring gravity over a patch of ocean or dry land provides an estimate of how much mass lies in that region. The measured mass depends on the presence of such things as mountains, glaciers, mineral deposits, and oceans. 
If the gravity measurement for a place is changing, this could mean that the place is losing mass because of a retreating glacier or gaining mass if, as in the ocean surrounding Antarctica, new melt water is streaming in.
The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or GRACE for short, consists of a pair of satellites moving in an orbit that takes them over the South and North Poles. The two craft, nicknamed Tom and Jerry after the television cartoon characters, send constant signals to each other to determine their relative spacing to about 10 microns -- one-tenth the width of a human hair -- over a distance of 130 miles. If the first craft flies above a slightly more weighty area of the Earths' surface -- like a mountain range -- it will be tugged a bit out of place, an effect picked up by a change in the relative spacing of the craft.
In these way monthly gravity maps of pieces of land or ocean about 180 miles wide can be made with high precision. The new report for the years of 2003-09 looks at how much mass has been lost from land areas and how much mass has been gained by ocean areas. 
One of the authors of the report, Riccardo Riva from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said that average annual rise in sea level rise due to meltwater entering the ocean is about 1 millimeter, but that an additional rise will come from that fact that as the average temperature rises so does the ocean temperature, which in turn causes the volume of the ocean to increase. 
"The most important result of the new report is the measurement of the sea level changes for specific regions of the Earth that are based on direct and global measurements of mass change," Riva said.
Mark Tamisiea, who works at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, England, and was not involved in the GRACE work, believes the new report represents good research.
"As coastal sea level changes impact society, it is important for us to understand as much about the local differences from the global average as possible," Tamisiea said. "These results are one piece in that puzzle."
"GRACE is definitely the 'real deal' when it comes from measuring climate change from space," said Joshua Willis, an ocean expert at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "This work by Dr. Riva and company reminds us that the world's oceans don't behave like a giant bathtub. As the ice melts and the water finds its way back to the ocean, the resulting sea level rise won't be the same all over the world."
"These effects are still small in today's rising ocean, but as we look out over the next century, the patterns of sea level change due to melting ice will be magnified many times over as the ice sheets thin and melt," Willis said.
Looking at the actual map of sea level rises presents an ironic twist. Offshore the areas where melting ice is most rapidly falling into the ocean -- such as Greenland and Antarctica -- the sea level appears to be falling.
"The main reason for this is the rebound of the solid Earth," explained Riva. "Less ice causes the continents go up, and therefore sea level drops. Meltwater distributes around quite quickly, in most cases, so there is no accumulation due to that."
The new GRACE results appear in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Exciting debate kicks off innovation forum

Seychelles Nation - 15.11.2010
An exciting debate led by former space scientist Dr Cheick Diarra kicked off the Seychelles Innovation Forum which was launched by Vice-President Danny Faure at the School of Education on Friday.

Dr Diarra is a former engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) of the US government responsible for space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.

He is now the chairman of Microsoft Africa and once reported directly to Bill Gates who founded the software company, which invented the Windows operating system.

Dr Diarra told ministers, diplomats, top government officials, entrepreneurs, students and others at the meeting that innovation should seek to achieve goals faster, cheaper and in better ways than before.

He said such efforts should be led by knowledgeable young people who are enthusiastic and “dumb enough to try anything” with experienced advisers who have failed so many times they are afraid to try anything new, to advise the young why not to try a new idea, based on why they believe it may not work.

He kept his captivated audience at the edge of their seats as he narrated how he took part in designing and guiding craft to Mars each time using less money and time than in previous missions, saying what pains his team took not to send a single bacterium to outer space.

Dr Diarra invited Dr Rolph Payet to visit the 500,000 population Creole-speaking Cape Verde archipelago off the scientist’s native Senegal to see innovations there.

Welcoming President James Michel’s vision of a knowledge-based society which he said is within reach, he said Seychelles has the chance to make more exemplary innovations for the world.

Dr Payet – who is the vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles – said it is developing ties with Microsoft through which the university will get software from the company at reduced prices.

In return, he told Nation, the company would gain as the graduates would be more inclined to use its software.

He said the country has evolved from a copra and cinnamon-dependent economy to one reliant on tourism and fisheries that is now becoming a financial, knowledge and innovation services-driven one.

Mr Faure said setting up the forum was in itself a form of innovation and listed many of our unique achievements.

“The forum is an initiative of the Seychelles Innovation and Technology Council which was launched by President Michel earlier this year. It is part of our vision to transform Seychelles into a knowledge-based society,” said Mr Faure.

“The Seychellois people as a nation have in the process of nation building shown they are innovative,” he said, noting our considerable progress in education, health and social welfare which have ranked us among the best performing countries of Africa.

He gave our tanker fleet, establishment of the university and ability to steer our economy back on track as examples of Seychelles’ globally notable innovations.

Many Strong Voices speak out in Seychelles

Seychelles Nation - 29.10.2010
Activists from small island and Arctic states are meeting at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) campus at Anse Royale to talk about climate change and discuss their strategies for the coming five years.

The forum has been organised by the steering committee of Many Strong Voices (MSV), a platform where islanders and indigenous peoples of the Arctic combine to bring attention to the issues of climate change.

It is also a growing global network of researchers, policy makers, community organisations and Small Island Developing States that promotes the security and sustainability of coastal communities.

Around 15 people from Canada, St Lucia and Alaska, among others, are attending the meeting, which opened yesterday morning and closes today.

“The role of MSV is to peel back the veneer that science has projected and give a human face to the issue of climate change,” said Cletus Springer from St Lucia.

He explained that the islanders affected by the issue are not asking for too much – just that their way of life is protected, allowing them the simple pleasures of walking on a beach and taking a dip in the sea.

“Today, as we get together for our strategy meeting, let us combine our expertise to further impact on global decisions,” said UniSey president Dr Rolph Payet, who officially launched the meeting.

“I am aware of our resource and capacity constraints, but we have shown ourselves to be focused, resilient and determined in everything we do, and in many of our initiatives we have reached politicians as well as community leaders and even students.

“However bleak the outcome may be, we should strive to build more partnerships. And as we look ahead to Cancun, let us resolve to make known the issues facing our small nations and peoples today.”

The next United Nations climate change conference will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10.

One of the issues the delegates also talked about was making the industrialised countries more aware of the issue as the changes in climate affect the whole world.

“There are still climate change sceptics who do not believe in the real threat – in fact they are holding a convention in London right now, calling it Climate Fools’ Day,” said Mr Springer.

Dr Payet also asked for a credible and acceptable climate change pact, saying: “I am saddened by the continued lack of political assertiveness at the global level to resolve the climate change issue.”

Also during the meeting, the delegates looked at pictures of the effects of climate change in different areas of the world and listened to stories of the impact on the lives of people living there.
MSV was established in 2005 and partners with the Sea Level Rise Foundation in Seychelles.

Small islands ‘face huge energy challenge’

Seychelles Nation - 26.10.2010
Small island states such as Seychelles face a huge challenge in securing their long-term energy supply, President James Michel’s special adviser Dr Rolph Payet has said.

He was speaking at the weekend at the preparatory commission for the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he was representing Joel Morgan, Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport.

Also in the Seychelles delegation were Didier Dogley, principal secretary for environment, and Philip Morin, chief executive of the Seychelles Energy Commission.

In his speech during the high-level segment of the meeting, Dr Payet said: ‘Small Island Developing States such as Seychelles are facing an unprecedented task in ensuring long-term security of energy supply. The link between use of fossil fuels and climate change – which threatens our very existence – is undeniable, and our goal towards a low-carbon economy should be relentless.”

The conference, on October 23 and 24, adopted its 2011 work programme and budget, and made preparations for its first assembly, also next year.

The government of the UAE is the host of Irena and has announced a fund to finance renewable energy projects in developing countries to the tune of 183 million dirhams (about R200 million) a year.

During the visit to Abu Dhabi, the Seychelles delegation also met officials of Masdar, the UAE renewable energy company.

In January 2009, an agreement to develop a windfarm in Seychelles was signed with the UAE government after talks there by President Michel.

The windfarm is one more project funded through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development to benefit the Seychellois people. The 7MW farm is already in its advanced planning stages and construction is expected to start late next year.

E-learning brings master’s to Seychelles

Seychelles Nation - 22.10.2010
Professionals wanting to get a master’s degree can do so without having to travel overseas now that the University of Seychelles (UniSey) has started an e-learning programme with India.

UniSey is now working closely with several Indian universities such as the Amity University in Noida and the Indira Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi.

In the programme, the students use a satellite connection to speak to and listen to their lecturers in India as though they were on an actual campus where the course was being held.

At the end of their two-year course they will have a master’s degree that is recognised all over the world.

The Pan-African tele-education network – which is the second phase of the Pan-African e-Network – was launched for Seychelles at UniSey’s School of Education on Wednesday.

Its first phase was launched in 2008 with the tele-medicine component, which allows medical staff in Seychelles to ask specialists in India for advice on complicated procedures via satellite, as well as giving them a chance to learn online.

There are now 16 students enrolled on the tele-education programme – studying for master’s degrees in finance and control, international business, and information technology among others.

UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet officially launched the programme, which started in August.
Present at the event were Minister for Education, Employment and Human Resources Macsuzy Mondon and the Indian high commissioner Asit Kumar Nag among other guests.

Benjamin Choppy, the national coordinator for the Pan African e-Network, gave those present a short introduction to the project and how it started.

Mr Nag said the e-network programme is cheaper to run than an actual university campus while making a significant contribution to human resources development in Seychelles.

Dr Payet said now that UniSey offers these online courses, it gives Seychellois another opportunity to have access to education.

“Through the e-network programme, students who do not have access to university education will now have it,” he said.

He added that the programme gives UniSey a platform to involve all members of society in lifelong learning.

“The university will continue to expand this programme, there is more to come and I would like to encourage, especially, people at work who find it hard to attend university full-time because of their jobs and families to take this opportunity and join the programme,” said Dr Payet.

Immediately after the ceremony the guests were given a tour of the classrooms the master’s students are using on the campus.
Seychelles is the second country in the African region, after Senegal, to join the network.

UniSey president in talks with Mauritian minister

Seychelles Nation - 16.10.2010
During a short visit to Mauritius this week Dr Rolph Payet, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey), called on the Minister for Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, Dr Rajesh Jeetah.

The meeting was a chance to exchange information on developments in both countries in the areas of tertiary education and development of science and technology.

It was felt that Seychelles can benefit from the many years of experience Mauritius has had in university education, research and technology transfer.

A memorandum of understanding is expected to be developed between the Mauritius Research Council and UniSey, as well as with the Seychelles Innovation and Technology Council.

Dr Payet also met his counterpart, University of Mauritius vice-chancellor Professor K Morgan, and they discussed developing close ties between the two universities and exploring ways to exchange information.

They also expressed the wish for greater collaboration and exchange among universities in the Indian Ocean and Southern African Development Community regions.

Ninety-four freshers join UniSey

Seychelles Nation - 22.09.2010
A new batch of 94 undergraduates have joined the University of Seychelles (UniSey) and were welcomed at their induction yesterday.

The ceremony, which coincided with the first anniversary of the university’s launch, took place at the School of Education.

It was attended by chief justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende; Education, Employment and Human Resources Minister Macsuzy Mondon; and youth and sports principal secretary Denis Rose.

Also present were the president and vice-chancellor of UniSey Dr Rolph Payet, members of the board of governors, attorney-general Ronny Govinden, senior government officials and other guests.

Management and staff of the School of Education, as well as lecturers and students were also there.

In his address Dr Payet said with a total of over 300 students UniSey is proud to welcome its 94 freshmen for this new academic year 2010-2011.

“When we embarked on this historic journey we had a shipful of only 53 students,” he said.
And today, one year later, the students speak of their challenges and hardships but also the good times and the determination they all wear – like proud smiles, he said.

He added that the faculty, students and supporters of UniSey should be proud to share in the vision of President James Michel to create a modern and forward-looking Seychelles.

Dr Payet also spoke about a series of new programmes which include both undergraduate and master’s degreees for part-time students.

And he mentioned new facilities such as UniSey’s investment in a scalable – expandable – computer network at a cost of R1.2 million, contracted to Victoria Computer Services.

The new information technology (IT) system will serve both campuses and is now connected by fibre-optic cable to the Cable & Wireless direct uplink for fast internet connection. Wi-fi hotspots are being installed on both campuses.

“Our main aim is to become the first institution in Seychelles to become fibre-optic ready, once Seychelles has its submarine fibre-optic connection,” said Dr Payet.

He added that one year on, the faculty and students are proud of their achievements, and their exam results are very promising.

Dr Payet said 10 degrees have been introduced for this new academic year, including geography, law, banking, economics and environment – and a surprising number of applicants were interested in the law course.

Since the launch of the university there has been a complete refurbishment of the front wing of the ex-Seychelles Polytechnic at Anse Royale.

“We have 21 lecture rooms ready for formal courses to start at the beginning of October,” said Dr Payet.

The total cost of renovation work on the building now housing UniSey – carried out by the China State Construction Company – is about R12 million, entirely funded by the government of Seychelles. And UniSey has invested around R1 million in books which are essential for the students and lecturers.

Dr Payet wished the students all the best in their new academic year, and the event was also marked by blessings by representatives of the catholic and anglican churches, as well as songs and reflections by members of the faculty.

The induction for freshers will go on until October 1; formal classes are expected to start on October 4 and will go on until the exams next May.

UniSey offers much wider range of courses

Seychelles Nation - 18.09.2010
Students following higher education at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) can now
choose from a wider range of undergraduate courses.

This follows the introduction of 11 new high-quality courses in fields such as economics, law, environment, geography, education, banking, finance and tourism.

UniSey started offering a bachelor’s degree programme in the field of business administration and in computing and information systems in September 2009.

All the courses are being run in partnership with universities abroad, such as the University of London (UK), University of Edith Cowan (Australia) and the

Université de Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne (France).

UniSey has also increased its student base from 53 students in September 2009 to well over 300 (including students studying at the School of Education). The total number of students includes 94 freshmen enrolled on degree and diploma courses.

The new university term starts on Tuesday September 21.

UniSey and STA sign accord for joint benefit

Seychelles Nation - 07.08.2010
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) and the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) have signed an agreement on training and sharing their facilities.

The memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday by STA principal Flavien Joubert and UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet.
Present at the ceremony were guests including Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam, secretary of state in the President’s office Barry Faure, and representatives of Ireland-based Shannon College and the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Mr Joubert and Dr Payet toasted the new partnership immediately after the signing, before the latter congratulated the efforts of the STA in introducing its advanced diploma courses and opportunities to progress towards degree-level studies.

“I do recognise the tireless efforts the STA has made, and continues to make, to ensure that our tourism service excels at all levels,” he said.

“With the establishment of UniSey, we are now ready to make our contribution to this most important endeavour – of empowering our people to manage the tourism industry at all levels.”

Mr Joubert explained that the MoU covers several aspects beneficial to both sides. After completing their courses, students will be proficient in fields such as marketing, human resources management, service development, hotel management, tour operating and airlines.

“The MoU covers the degree course the students will be doing at Shannon College, so they will now be able to choose between UniSey and Shannon College,” he said.

“There will also be an exchange of students and lecturers, such as UniSey providing teachers in finance, marketing, statistics and human resources while we give them our specialists in, for example, housekeeping, restaurant and bar work, and food preparation, as well as sharing facilities such as libraries and equipment.”

Dr Payet said the new degree programme to be launched next month is unique globally, in that it has brought together three universities to deliver an intensive four-year programme aimed at training the tourism executives and managers of tomorrow.

Ministry hopes Seychelles joins WTO soon

Seychelles Nation - 08.06.2010
It is crucial that Seychelles joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO) soon, given that the current negotiating climate is more favourable to small and vulnerable economies.

Mr Afif launching the sessions yesterday

Principal secretary for finance Ahmed Afif said this yesterday as he launched a series of sessions aimed at helping key people understand how the trade body works.

Principal secretaries, chief executives and University of Seychelles lecturers attended a briefing session at the university’s School of Education in the morning, and members of the National Assembly another in the afternoon. Ministers are due to attend one tomorrow at Liberty House.

Mr Afif said the Ministry of Finance “is under no illusion there will not be some form of negative effect as a result of WTO accession”, but he listed a number of advantages of joining.

“Seychelles will have made its case to a large number of countries who have an agreed set of procedures and rules, and we will therefore be able to present ourselves as a WTO-compatible country,” he said.

“Investors would have a more clearly defined environment in which they would operate and be better able to assess the merits or demerits of investing or operating in Seychelles.

“However, certain sectors or groups of people in the country might find themselves in some difficulties if planning the migration from not being a member to being one is not done carefully.”

Mr Afif said joining the WTO might bring more competition in the face of new rules, and local production sectors – particularly those involved in import substitution or the services sector – will need time and information to manoeuvre so they are able to face the new environment.

He noted that the launch of the sessions coincided with the opening of a WTO reference centre.

Mr Afif said “hard decisions will have to be made and the current regulatory framework governing sectors will have to be revised to ensure compliance with WTO rules”.

He said the WTO is the only multilateral organisation that deals directly with international trade and is the guardian of the other multilateral trade-related agreements.

“It has been generally agreed that these agreements have been able to mitigate against the impact of the global financial crisis,” he said.

He said, for example, that if we had been part of the WTO we could have had an avenue to redress more quickly the swordfish export ban we suffered in 2004.

“The commitment of the Ministry of Finance is that we will guide the process through the national working group to negotiate the best possible deal for Seychelles,” said Mr Afif.

“In doing so, the negotiating strategy will be phased liberalisation of various sectors of the economy, at the same time seeking to protect sectors that are much more vulnerable to foreign competition.

“This is all in the spirit of mitigating the negative impacts of Seychelles’ accession.”

He called on everyone to help get the best possible result, adding that membership of the WTO will have an effect on everyone.

Among those who gave presentations were Edwini Kessie and Cherif Mondher of the WTO.

UniSey to jointly absorb youth leadership programme

Seychelles Nation - 31.05.2010
The empowerment programme for the country’s young leaders initiated by President James Michel in 2007 and launched the following year has been transferred to the University of Seychelles (UniSey).

The new move will ensure continued delivery of the Seychelles Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) which targets the leadership skills of young Seychellois with minimum disruptions to studies already on the way in the second cycle.

Since its inception, it has always been the government’s intention to transfer the programme which is run in partnership with the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) – a college of the National University of Ireland – to an appropriate higher education institution in view of its academic focus.

Under the new agreement, the UniSey will coordinate and manage the programme while IPA will continue to deliver the academic part with no expected changes.

According to the programme officials, integrating and enrolling the trainees as students of the UniSey as well as IPA, provides an important platform which will allow the programme to continue for many years to come.

To formalise the agreement, a memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday by the vice-chancellor of UniSey Dr Rolph Payet and principal secretary in the Vice-President’s Office Lucy Athanasius, who is also the programme coordinator.

The signing ceremony in the auditorium of UniSey’s School of Education at Mont Fleuri was attended by Secretary of State Jean-Paul Adam, members of the National Assembly, government officials and trainees of the programme’s second cohort.

Dr Payet described the move as a new milestone and said the UniSey will be ready to take over the whole programme when it enrols its third cohort.

He added that the UniSey is ready to take up the challenges which he said will not affect its present schooling agenda.

C&W to give UniSey R2m services

Cable & Wireless - 18.05.2010
Cable & Wireless agreed yesterday to provide modern telecom services worth around R2 million to the University of Seychelles (UniSey) through the signing of an accord at the Anse Royale campus.

It was signed by the telecom firm’s chief executive Charles Hammond and UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet, in the presence of the information communications technology principal secretary Benjamin Choppy.

The dean of the School of Sciences, Dr George Ah-Thew, C&W public relations manager Terry Servina and staff, along with UniSey staff were also there.

The main aim of the project is to provide telecom services to the university campuses at Anse Royale and the School of Education (ex-NIE) at Mont Fleuri.

These include fixed-line phone services, mobile packages for administration staff, BlackBerry devices, wi-fi and high-speed internet access. The agreement also covers full-time scholarships for two students at the university.
A copy of the business proposal was also presented to Dr Payet.

Mr Hammond said the telecom company is proud to have the technology to deliver these services to UniSey.

“They are being delivered by highly capable and local skilled workers with the highest Cable & Wireless standards,” he said.
This sponsorship initiative complements the free broadband internet access for state schools that the firm started three years ago.

As a responsible corporate citizen, this is an opportunity to proactively contribute in creating a knowledge-based society, Mr Hammond added.

Dr Payet said technology is the backbone of education and the university will not be able to survive without it.
“We want to give our students a chance to interact with other lecturers and facilities outside Seychelles,” he said.

The infrastructure will give students and lecturers access to books and other academic materials.

“It is vital for us to expose our students to the latest technology and software, so they can bring innovation to the world of work.”

Mr Servina said the telecom company will install and maintain the infrastructure that will provide these services. The university will bear some minimal cost during the project, he added.

The main campus at Anse Royale already has most of the services, including wireless internet, and this will be connected to the School of Education once all the infrastructure has been put in place.

“The project is at an advanced stage, and if there is a need for new technology and services in the future for the benefit of the university and Seychelles we will make it available,” said Mr Servina.

Talking about the university courses, Dr Ah-Thew said students following the computing and information systems course are now sitting for their exams.

Soon they will be placed on internships, and the second year is scheduled to start in September.
He also called on other telecom companies to come forward and provide special packages to students and lecturers.

Environment ministers converge in Nairobi

From: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Written By:Rosalia Opondo    , Posted: Mon, Mar 29, 2010

Environment Ministers from ten African countries are converging at the UNEP headquarters in Gigiri to discuss ways of promoting better use of coastal resources in the region.

Under the aegis of Conference of Parties (COP - 6), the Nairobi Convention will discuss how to strengthen laws on pollution in order to conserve the shared resource of the Indian Ocean. The Western Indian Ocean is one of the richest ecosystems in the world with important mangrove forests, sea grass beds and coral reefs. It is thought to hold more than 11,000 species of plants and animals.

But growing population has led to an exponential increase in pollution through overflow of sewage, chemicals and other pollutants from the land. Deputy Director in charge of Coastal, marine and freshwater at the National Environment Management Agency (NEMA) noted that land based pollution challenges will be given prominence. "One of the protocols being discussed is that dealing with land based sources and activities. Over 80 % of our pollution to environment comes from land, and we are trying to address this," he told KBC news. For the next three days, they will deliberate on how to tighten legislation and national co-operation, in order to conserve the ocean. "The conditions you find in a coastal zone are very similar to conditions in coastal zones in countries that share the same convention," he said This means pollution in one past of Africa will eventually affect other parts.

Dr. Rolph Payet, a participant from Seychelles noted that education on co-operation between users of coastal resources is vital for the survival of marine facilities. According to UNEP, some 30 million people living around the ocean depend upon the area's marine and coastal resources for food, livelihoods and recreation. COP-6 to the Nairobi Convention  is a defining moment as the meeting is expected to among others, adopt the Amended Nairobi Convention as well as endorse the Strategic Action Programme for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment in the Western Indian Ocean from Land- based Sources and Activities (SAP);  The theme of the Conference is Sustaining Progress, and recommendations will be presented to Environment ministers.

New council aims at innovation to take us onwards

Seychelles Nation - 19.03.2010
The newly formed Seychelles Innovation and Technology Council aims to promote a creative society to bring Seychelles towards a new stage in its development.

Its chairman Dr Rolph Payet said this during the first meeting with all the other members, in the Vice-President’s office at State House yesterday.

In his opening remarks, he said the council brings together a wide diversity of talented individuals to work towards creating a platform for innovation.

“The council will create the drive and motivation for innovation,” he said.

He said innovation is about change, the need to continuously improve on things and, above all, it is a way of life. It is meeting the needs of today’s generation and preparing for tomorrow’s generation.
“It has to dominate in our productive industries, such as fisheries and tourism, and also in sports and our culture,” added Dr Payet.

He said innovation has to permeate our society and our social fabric so as to address our current social challenges.
The role of the council is to interact with the government, the private sector and all stakeholders, to see how we can develop and review the way we do things, he added.

And it is also about how we can improve our services and bring innovation into the lives of Seychellois, as there is a need for us to develop our potential and bring in new ideas.

“There are many innovations that have taken place in the environment, using ideas from different organisations,” said Dr Payet.

He said innovation is not always about technological development but it also means new ideas and ways of doing things for the benefit of our economy, our people and our country.

Dr Payet also spoke about the variety of activities proposed by the council for this year, including the launch of the Seychelles Innovation Programme, which may lead to national innovation awards.

He said the University of Seychelles also plays a key role in fostering innovation as it carries out a great deal of research.

“We have to take models from countries like Singapore, which has invested in its social resources to move forward,” he added.

Seychelles has been recently recognised as a country that has put in place certain innovations, especially in the environment, he said. President James Michel received awards last year from Unesco and Lebanon on our behalf, which shows our potential.

Other educational activities to feature during the year will be national quizzes and spelling-bees, and promotion of research in educational institutions.

The council also has some long-term objectives, which include nurturing creativity and innovation as part of a lifelong learning process at all levels of society, and making all educational institutions centres of learning, creativity and innovation.

The new council’s role was outlined in Mr Michel’s recent state-of-the-nation address, in which he stressed that the innovative drive of the Seychellois people has been recognised internationally.

Its members are from the fields of business, industry, economics, education, the law and the arts.

UniSey hosts induction for trainee teachers

Seychelles Nation - 15.03.2010
A group of 85 students who have enrolled on the University of Seychelles’ (UniSey) School of Education programme attended an induction session at their auditorium, Mont Fleuri, last week.

These students are following a two-year foundation programme leading eventually to a bachelor of education degree.

During the meeting, UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet spoke about the university and its policies, in the presence of School of Education head Alex Souffe, UniSey’s School of Sciences dean Dr George Ah-Thew and registrar Elvis Julie.

They gave presentations on a variety of subjects such as student regulations, code of conduct, academic calendar and allowances.

Dr Payet said induction is very important for students, as they need to know what is expected from them so they can enter the university’s framework.

He said these students were chosen according to their grades and they had to meet the entry requirements. They are made up of S5 school leavers and those who did not get the necessary grades after their ex-National Institute of Education exams and A-levels.

A-level students who have not performed well can resit the exams and then enrol on the first year of the degree programme after gaining the required grades, Dr Payet said.

“The foundation course is a special one, and we have decided to enrol S5 leavers as there is a great demand for teachers here,” he said.

He added that the programme will equip students with the basic and necessary skills, for example in English, maths, communication and research to better prepare them for degree courses.

The programme, which started on Monday, is certified by Cambridge University, and after achieving that level students can join the degree courses, Dr Payet said.

He said UniSey will help to raise standards in schools, but this does not mean there are no good teachers at present.

Since there is now a university here we can work more closely with the schools, and trainee teachers can do research here for the benefit of the schools, children and students.

“We want to train good teachers to bring about the change that we need in schools; at present there are many expatriates here,” he said.

During the degree course, students will get the opportunity to do their practical work here in our own schools, he added.

Dr Payet said there is also a scheme for teachers who have completed their diploma and advanced diploma, and this will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

He added that the university does not tap into the budget set by the government for primary and secondary schools. Instead, it uses the scholarship funds which have previously sent students abroad.

“Now we have a university here, and it is offering many courses at cheaper rates for the people of Seychelles,” he said.

The teachers’ training to graduate level will be done in partnership with Edith Cowan University in Australia, the University of London and the University of Reunion.

The School of Education is offering a four-year degree course in early childhood and primary education.

And those who want to teach at secondary level will be able to choose a three-year specialist subject degree that will be followed by a one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

This specialist degree will be offered in a variety of subjects such as English, French, history and geography.

UniSey finance degree courses to meet our need

Seychelles Nation  - 19.02.2010
Representatives from the London School of Economics (LSE) have explained the finance and environment degree courses they will run through the University of Seychelles (UniSey) from September.

The LSE’s external studies dean Dr Ray Richardson and its external programme director Professor Rosie Gosling presented four degree programmes – accounting and finance, banking and finance, economics and finance, and geography and environment – to prospective students yesterday.

Present at the session, in UniSey’s School of Education auditorium, Mont Fleuri, were the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet, its School of Humanities dean Dr Gerard Adonis and Seychelles International Business Authority chief executive Steve Fanny.

Also there were UniSey’s School of Sciences dean Dr George Ah-Thew and representatives of banks and offshore companies.

In his opening remarks, Mr Fanny said many emerging and developing nations like Seychelles face challenges in banking, government revenue and budgeting, and the design of long-term financial strategy due to a shortage of specialist personnel.

“The government has responded specifically to the need for enhanced capacity in finance management, financial sector supervision and private sector finance through the setting-up of UniSey,” he said.

He said the university will play a pivotal role in building human resources capacity in a sustainable, economical and efficient manner.

Mr Fanny added that these courses, to be offered in collaboration with one of the top universities in the United Kingdom, will cover a wide range of skills to meet the financial needs of the country.

Prof Gosling said the LSE is a college in the University of London, which will provide academic support to UniSey.

There is a strong relationship between the LSE and UniSey, which started three years ago when Dr Payet came to London, she added.

Prof Gosling said the LSE is very pleased to work with an institution like UniSey, which is presenting many opportunities to the people of Seychelles.

The University of London provides opportunities for people studying abroad, and the first such programme in the Indian Ocean region started in Mauritius, she said.

“This university was the first to offer degree courses at a distance, and now over 47,000 students study externally,” she said, adding that the students here will graduate with a University of London degree. 

She explained that the LSE will be doing the capacity building – developing opportunities for students and also providing lecturers with the necessary training to teach programmes that are internationally recognised.

Dr Payet said these four courses are very demanding, and students need to have at least two A-levels with minimum B grades.

But students whose grades are not good enough can still enrol on the foundation programme and the university will prepare them for the course, he said.

“We are also encouraging students from the School of Business Studies to do their first degree in accounting, and then they can get an exemption when they follow their Association of Chartered Certified Accountants programme,” he said.

Dr Payet said both the government and private sector are willing to offer scholarships for these new degree programmes as demand is very high in these fields.

He said they already have a group of lecturers and soon they will recruit others for specialised courses like finance and accounts.

For the third year, UniSey will get foreign lecturers as the modules are much more specialised.

Trainee teachers to take education degrees locally

Seychelles Nation - 12.02.2010
Local students can now study for bachelor of education degrees in early childhood, primary and secondary education at the University of Seychelles (UniSey).

This has been made possible through a new agreement between the Australia-based Edith Cowan University (ECU) and UniSey.

The signing took place yesterday at the auditorium of the university’s School of Education – which will run the degree courses – in the presence of Minister for Education Bernard Shamlaye, dean of the Faculty of Science at UniSey Dr George Ah-Thew and senior officials of the two universities.

Vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet signed the agreement on behalf of UniSey, while the ECU was represented by Dr Jenny Jay, programme director for early childhood studies and acting head of the School of Education.

The accord builds on the long-standing partnership between the ECU and the Ministry of Education in training teachers overseas for the past 14 years.

In the past, yearly groups of newly-qualified teachers at diploma level went to the ECU to complete a B.Ed degree in two years, while under the new agreement the same degree will be taught at UniSey by its own staff. The ECU will oversee the courses’ quality assurance.

Besides delivering the degree courses, the agreement includes components on professional development of staff and student exchanges.

Delivering the courses locally will allow UniSey to reduce costs and to enrol more student teachers annually.
While in the country, Dr Jay – who is accompanied by Professor Cher Ping Lim, director of the Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence for Teacher Education – met and had talks with staff and heads of programmes of UniSey and representatives from the Ministry of Education. They also visited the university campus at Anse Royale.

President sees steady progression UniSey campus

Seychelles Nation - 11.02.2010
President James Michel yesterday visited the Anse Royale campus of the University of Seychelles, where an ongoing R12.5 million refurbishment is due to be completed this month.

Mr Michel, who is the university’s chancellor, was accompanied by its vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet and its top officials.
He said he visited the campus to see progress as the former facilities of the Seychelles Polytechnic are renovated.

Among the facilities he saw were the lecture rooms, libraries, computer laboratories, conference room, offices, staff rooms and cafeteria. He also met students, who told the Nation they were happy to see him.

The President said he was reassured that work is going on well although there is still a lot to be done.
“This university provides opportunities for young Seychellois to get better education, skills and knowledge to be able to participate better in the development of the country,” he added.

Mr Michel said the university is a landmark in the history of Seychelles, offering more young people an opportunity to develop.

He said he attaches a great deal of importance to the university, noting that he announced plans to launch it in 2007 “and today we see the project has become a reality”.

“To me the university represents a major national project,” he said.
When I announced the plans, some said Seychelles was too small for a university. But the country has come a long way, making it necessary for us to have a university, he added.

He said with the university and the Seychelles Young Leaders Programme, we are putting the future of the country in the hands of our young people “and the future begins today”.

Mr Michel said once the refurbishment is completed, the university will have a much better environment.

Seychelles and the world are moving very fast, and it is good that the university has already opened its doors to students.

“Everything must have a beginning and we were in a position to start off, which we did in September knowing that the world does not wait for anyone,” he said.

He said being accredited to the University of London is a good beginning and a practice followed by many other countries.

Dr Payet said the university has plans to sell laptops to students at cost price, but there is as yet no supplier able to sell such computers at a reasonable price locally.

He said the university is delaying installing new and expensive computers in the buildings now being refurbished because the power supply there is not reliable. A contractor will be asked to redo the wiring to ensure that once new equipment is installed it is not damaged by current fluctuations.

Dr Payet said two of the 53 students who started lectures have opted to give up for various reasons connected with their sponsors.

The renovation work at the university is being carried out by the China State Construction company.

Chinese entrepreneurs donate to UniSey

Seychelles Nation - 06.02.2010
The Seychelles University Foundation has received a donation of R80,000 from the World Chinese Entrepreneurs General Association.

The association’s executive chairman Liao JunQiao presented the cheque to Dr Rolph Payet, the university’s president and vice-chancellor, in a short ceremony at State House yesterday. 

Thanking Mr JunQiao for the donation, Mr Payet said since the University of Seychelles was launched last year it has been growing very quickly and the money will be put to good use.

Mr JunQiao said it is important for the government to develop and strengthen the education level of its people.
He said being a small island state, Seychelles lack resources and the people are in fact its most valuable resource.

“The development and improvement of the people’s education also means the improvement of national prosperity,” said Mr JunQiao.

“The development of the university has historical significance because only when education develops can that state have talent, become stronger and its people become more prosperous and happy.”

President appoints human resources board

 Seychelles Nation - 29.01.2010
Members of the body responsible for developing human resources have been appointed by President James Michel for a period of three years, with effect from November last year.

Chairperson of the National Human Resources Development Council (NHRDC) board is Marina Confait – also principal secretary for employment and human resources development – who joined the other members for their first meeting at National House yesterday.

Dr Rolph Payet, vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey), is the new vice- chairman, and among other members – representing the civil service and private sector – are the NHRDC’s chief executive Christian Cafrine, principal secretary for education Jeanne Simeon and for public administration Jessie Esparon.

Also on the board are Michael Benstrong from the Seychelles Savings Bank, Eric Savy from the Ephelia Resort, Jean Malbrook representing the Federation of Workers Union, Cyril Bonnelame from United Concrete Products Seychelles and Jennifer Sinon representing the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association.

Jill Tirant from the NHRDC is the board’s secretary.
Chairing the meeting, Mrs Confait said there are many challenges ahead but a lot of work has been done since the council was established by its own Act in June 2006.

She said it is good to have people from different backgrounds and with different skills on the board as the NHRDC is the focal point for the country’s human resources development.

“We are faced with a lot of challenges in regard to human resources development, education, training and the employment perspective,” she said.

She added that at the moment most jobseekers are school drop-outs or people who have not gone on to post-secondary education.

“These people do not have the required skills, so we are retraining and reskilling them as a temporary measure,” said Mrs Confait.

The council hopes to bridge this gap and be able to respond to the needs of the labour market, she added.

Expatriate employment has now reached just over 9,000, which is not good for a country with jobseekers, Mrs Confait said. As at September last year there were 246 expatriates in the public service and 94 in parastatal bodies.

Talking about human resources availability at national level, Mr Cafrine said with our small population we have a limited group of people who can be employed and who have the required skills.

We can train many people here, but in specialised domains we have to send them abroad, he explained. And in certain areas we still need expatriates until they can be replaced by Seychellois.

Mr Cafrine said although they can train people for a job, there is sometimes no one who is interested, which is a problem.

“We need to find ways to get people interested in fields such as the manufacturing sector,” he said.
And Seychellois are also needed to work at the Indian Ocean Tuna factory, which has a high number of expatriates, he added.

“We hope with UniSey we can train more people, but there is always a need for expatriates as there are many Seychellois who go overseas to work,” said Mr Cafrine.

But he added that education reforms can help to reduce the human resources problem as they have taken the national plan and the socio-economic situation into account in deciding what kind of skilled people we need.

“Gradually, education can become more effective in preparing students for employment,” he said.

Mr Cafrine also called on employers to play their part and produce a conducive working environment to help keep their employees and encourage other people to work.

G.S. Pillay donates to UniSey on golden jubilee

Seychelles Nation - 22.01.2010
As part of activities to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the G.S. Pillay Company has donated R100,000 to the University of Seychelles.

The contribution forms part of the company’s social responsibility to share with society what it has achieved during 50 years in business.

Chairman of the Seychelles University Foundation Dr Rolph Payet accepted the cheque from the grandchildren of G. Subramanian Pillay – founder and chairman of the company – during a special gathering on Wednesday at the Sea Front restaurant in the International Conference Centre.

Among the guests were Minister for Community Development, Youth, Sports and Culture Vincent Meriton, managing director of Seychelles Breweries Ltd Aubrey Lucas, chief executive of Airtel R.V.S. Bhullar, chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr V. Ramadoss, National Assembly member for Roche Caïman Giovanna Charles, people from other sectors, friends and relatives.

Dr Payet thanked the Pillay family for their contribution to educational development in Seychelles and reminded those present that education is the fundamental foundation of any individual, family or nation.

Company director Paramesvaran Pillay said the hard work started by his father 50 years ago has borne fruit as the company has now a good reputation as an importer, wholesaler, retailer and distributor of Seychelles Breweries’ products.

Mr Pillay said honesty and trustworthiness in business have been the keys to the company’s success.

He also acknowledged the help received from partners, which has contributed to the company’s achievements.
Special mention went to the late K. Ramanathan Pillay, who is considered as the family’s mentor.

Mr Pillay thanked the Seychelles government for its pro-business attitude and its efforts to create a favourable business climate locally.

He also thanked customers and the general public for their continuing support.
On behalf of Seychelles Breweries, Mr Lucas described the 38 years of partnership with G.S. Pillay – one of the first main distributors of its products – as excellent and efficient, remaining firm even in difficult times. He added that G.S. Pillay has witnessed the progress of Seychelles Breweries through the years.

With new challenges ahead, Mr Lucas said the partnership with G.S. Pillay and other retailers should be strengthened to boost the services offered.

Mr Bhullar said his company has had a very good working relationship with G.S. Pillay throughout its five years in business.
He added that Airtel is proud and happy to have the company as one of its distributors and wished them more success in their future investments.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, distinguished guests and staff received gifts from the company’s directors, and the event ended with a dinner.

Seychelles tuna conference to consider needs of Indian Ocean tuna fisheries

Tuesday, 12 January 2010 11:47   From: fishnewseu

ORGANISERS of the inaugural Seychelles Tuna Conference, taking place in Mahe 4-6 February, have confirmed an impressive line-up of speakers for the event.

They say that government officials, industry leaders and some of the world’s top marine scientists have committed to speak and share ideas in an open forum scheduled for the first week in February.

“The Indian Ocean is an important resource and its future depends upon cooperation among all stakeholders,” said Adolfo Valsecchi, Chief Executive Officer of MWBrands (maker of Petit Navire, Parmentier, John West and Mareblu products). “This is an opportunity to build on the success already achieved in the Seychelles.”

Conference host, the Republic of the Seychelles, is located in one of the largest fishing grounds in the world and is home to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC.)

“More than 20 percent of the world’s tuna comes from the Indian Ocean making it a region that we all have an intense interest in protecting,” International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) President Susan Jackson said. “This conference will be a huge success if it simply sparks a renewed passion for working together toward a sustainable future.”

The Seychelles 1st Tuna Conference – Taking Stock: Action Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow – will allow participants to evaluate what is currently known about the fisheries, share new scientific data and propose immediate actions and long range strategies to strengthen and protect tuna resources in the Indian Ocean. Attendees will also tour a working fishing vessel and tuna processing plant.

Among the confirmed speakers scheduled to present during the 3 day conference are: Joel Morgan, Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, Transport and Fisheries, Republic of Seychelles; Laurent Dagorn, Senior Scientist, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Miguel Jorge, Marine Program Director - WWF International; Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Seychelles; Dale Squires, Senior Scientist and Economist, National Marine Fisheries Service; Dr. Michel Goujon, Director of Orthongel. A full list of speakers and the conference agenda can be found here.

The conference will also honour the work of the late Dr. James Joseph, a well-respected fisheries conservation scientist who passed away while organizing the event. Dr. Joseph was, most recently, the Chair of the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee.

The Seychelles 1st Tuna Conference is being hosted by the Government of the Republic of Seychelles with support from MWBrands and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.

President names new national theme committee

 Seychelles Nation - 09.01.2010
President James Michel has appointed a steering committee to promote the new national theme for the year 2010 – Together, Ready for the Future.

The committee is, once again, chaired by Vice-President Joseph Belmont, and the vice-chairman will be Minister for Community Development, Youth, Sports and Culture Vincent Meriton. 

The committee also has representatives of the two major political parties in the National Assembly and of government agencies, the police, small businesses, churches and civil society.

The newly formed University of Seychelles is also represented as it establishes itself as the shaping ground for a future generation of leaders.

Together, Ready for the Future encompasses the ideals of unity and our nation’s common endeavour to forge a bright and prosperous future. The theme stresses the importance of a strong and forward-looking vision for Seychellois society grounded within its values and spirituality. 

“2009 has prepared us for the future. In 2010, we are ready for whatever may come. We are ready to turn challenges into opportunities as one nation,” said Mr Michel.

The President also thanked the committee charged with promoting the 2009 theme, Koste Seselwa (Come Together Seychellois), and stressed that the spirit of unity was what made Seychelles strongest when it needed to be. 

He also flagged the importance of maintaining our solidarity as a nation in everything we do.
“We must come together in everything we do. We must koste for the future of Seychelles – this is also essential for the theme of 2010,” he said.

The other members of the national theme committee are:
● Marie-Antoinette Rose – Parti Lepep representative;
● Jean-François Ferrari – Seychelles National Party;
● A representative of the Catholic Church;
● A representative of the Anglican Church;
● Charles Bastienne, chief executive of the Housing Finance Company, representing government agencies;
● The chief executive of the National Youth Council – to be designated;
● Caroline Abel – Central Bank of Seychelles;
● Jean-Claude Matombe – Liaison Unit for Non-governmental Organisations of Seychelles;
● Ted Barbe – Seychelles Police;
● Santasha Hoareau, secretary of the Textile and Tailoring Association, representing small businesses;
● Marc Marengo – Eco-Tourism Society of Seychelles, representing civil society;
● Jennifer Sinon, chief executive of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, representing the tourism industry;
● Dr Rolph Payet – vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles, representing university education. 

Prospective UniSey students learn about law degree

Seychelles Nation

Prospective students of the University of Seychelles (UniSey) yesterday learned more about the new Bachelor of Laws programme now on offer.

The presentation at the ex-National Institute of Education on the three-year law degree course to start in October was given by UniSey’s vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet in the presence of chief justice Frederick Egonda-Ntende.

Also present were president of the Court of Appeal Francis MacGregor, attorney-general Ronny Govinden, judges, lawyers and other legal professionals. 

In his opening address, Mr MacGregor said this law degree is for those who want to gain an LLB degree of international standing, which has provided the first step on a career path for many thousands of practising lawyers worldwide.

“The programme aims to promote independent learning and it provides you with a wealth of resources,” he added.

He told the prospective students the course will enable them to develop their critical awareness and learn how to stand back and consider the bigger picture regarding the context of law, nationally and globally.

Students will get an opportunity not only to know the law but to understand it, he added.
Talking about the need for such a course here, Dr Payet said there has been great demand “as there is a critical call for legal practitioners in the country”.

He said there is demand in offshore services, maritime law, environmental law and also a need for more state counsel.

“With the reform in the economy there has been much greater demand for legal professionals, and it is much cheaper to train people here than to send them abroad,” Dr Payet explained.

He said two companies have already offered scholarships on this new programme. The university will start with the full-time course this year and later on consider other options such as part-time and diploma-level courses.

UniSey is proposing to introduce English law training here at LLB level and explore how specialised aspects of French and European law can be introduced at master level, he added.

The degree will be done in partnership with the University of London, and those who are interested must have an A-level certificate in at least three subjects with a minimum of 200 points in total – grade A being 120 points, grade B (100), grade C (80), grade D (60) and grade E (40).

Dr Payet added that they should also have the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) with a minimum grade C in three subjects, including English.

People who already have a degree but now want to pursue the law degree can do so, he added. Students who have not gained the necessary points at A-level can resit their exams and enrol on the course if they get the required grades.

Dr Payet said the cost of the course will be announced later, but the tuition fee is estimated at around R100,000-R125,000 a year.

All applications should be in by August 15, as induction will follow shortly afterwards.