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.
