Dr Payet visite les autorités universitaires françaises

Fondation de l'Université des Seychelles - 18.11.2008

A l’invitation de l’Ambassade de France, Dr. Rolph Payet, conseiller spécial du Président de la République et président de la fondation pour l’Université des Seychelles, effectue du 16 au 21 novembre, une visite de travail à l’île de la Réunion et en France métropolitaine où il aura une série d’entretiens avec des autorités universitaires françaises dans la perspective de la création d’une université des Seychelles.

A la Réunion, il aura des entretiens avec le Président de l’Université de la Réunion, M. Mohamed Rochdi et ses proches collaborateurs.

Il poursuivra son périple à Paris, où il aura des entretiens au Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes, puis avec le Professeur Colliard (université de Paris I). Il saisira cette occasion pour visiter l’exposition « Aldabra » au Muséum d’histoire naturelle.

Il se rendra enfin à Montpellier et à Sète où il aura des séances de travail avec le directeur du Centre de recherche halieutique, les responsables de l’Ifremer et de l’IRD enfin avec l’université de Montpellier I. A cette occasion, il recevra les étudiants seychellois, boursier du gouvernement français, qui poursuivent des études à Montpellier.

High-quality services ‘key to future of Seychelles’

Seychelles Nation - 12.11.2008
Exceptionally high-quality products and services are the key to economic expansion, which is where Seychelles’ future lies, leaders of various sectors were told yesterday.

Dr Rolph Payet, chairman of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards, made this statement as he launched a seminar the bureau had organised on progress of the country’s National Quality Infrastructure (NQI).

The one-day session at the International Conference Centre was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and PTB International Technical Cooperation of Germany.

Dr Payet addressing delegates at the opening of the seminar yesterday

PTB’s consultant Martin Kellermann, an expert on standardisation and technical regulation, led the seminar, which was also aimed at giving the delegates an overview of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on technical barriers to trade.

Dr Payet said as Seychelles has had dealings with the world through shipping, tourism and financial services, it is important that we seek to develop and carry out best practices and state-of-the-art legislation to increase economic growth through these fields.

He added that those present at the seminar would gain invaluable insight into how the NQI works and he commended the efforts of local organisations to make quality in products and services a priority for this country.

“Standards, no doubt, can bring enormous benefits to consumers and producers alike. At the same time these standards also facilitate trade, allowing for economies of scale to emerge, as well as transfer of technology,” he said.

“In fact, because of our electronic interconnectedness, it is possible to say that the world has shrunk into a global village.”

Dr Payet added that standards are voluntary in nature but invaluable in practice, and so efforts to make sure they are followed will need serious consideration if we are to move forward as a nation.

The seminar delegates – chief executives, directors and representatives of various sectors of the economy – also discussed NQI challenges for developing economies and the NQI’s contribution to good governance.

Manchester confirms support for University of Seychelles

 Seychelles Nation - 14.10.2008

The head of Manchester University in the UK has confirmed its support for the University of Seychelles.

This follows an exchange of correspondence between the patron of the Seychelles University Foundation, President James Michel, and Professor Alan Gilbert, president and vice-chancellor of Manchester University.

In a meeting with Dr Rolph Payet, chairman of the Seychelles University Foundation, in Manchester last Friday, Professor Gilbert repeated his support to help the foundation establish a quality and credible university in Seychelles.

While there are still a number of challenges to address, the experience of Manchester University in this process would be invaluable, said Dr Payet.

It has a long history of helping to develop tertiary education in Seychelles, with more than 100 graduates working here and a twinning programme with Seychelles Polytechnic, whereby local students spend the first year of their undergraduate studies in Seychelles and the remaining two in Manchester.

First meeting of Seychelles-Mauritius joint zone managers

Seychelles Nation - 04.10.2008
The group appointed by Seychelles and Mauritius to manage the joint zone on the Mascarene Plateau – created by merging the extended continental shelf claims of both countries – has met for the first time.

The aim of Thursday’s meeting of the Joint Management Committee (JMC) in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius, was to take stock of the work done so far and to plan for the administration of the joint zone.

With the support of the technical committee set up when the agreement was signed on September 18, work on the joint submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf before the end of 2008 is progressing.

The two co-chairmen appointed by their governments are Dr Rolph Payet, special adviser to President James Michel, and S.C. Seebaluk, secretary to the cabinet and head of the Mauritian Civil Service.

Other Seychellois members of the JMC are Raymond Chang-Tave, special adviser in the Ministry of National Development, Eddy Belle, deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Petroleum Company, and Joseph Athanasius, representing deputy attorney-general Ronny Govinden.

The responsibilities of the JMC are to issue licences for resource exploration, exploitation or research; authorise any maritime activity; and determine the apportionment of the investment in any joint activity and of any resources found.