Rolph Payet, Seychelles
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/alumni/alumni_profiles.shtml Four degrees south of the equator lies the Archipelago of the Seychelles and the home and workplace of alumnus Rolph Payet. Rolph studied with the External System gaining a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Environmental Economics in 2006. He is currently the Special Adviser on the Environment to the President of Seychelles. He is also a Harvard graduate and Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2007 for lead author which was awarded to the IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
The alumni office interviewed him in early January 2009.
You studied a lot while holding various post with the Government of Seychelles? Were your employers supportive of your studies?
My employers were very supportive of my studies; however most of my studies were done outside official working hours, except for my PhD which was much more demanding. For my PhD, my employer granted me a month every year of paid study leave.
Would you recommend someone undertake a degree through the External System and, if so, why?
Absolutely. The courses are flexible, with many options (electives) to choose from. Although I could pace my studies, the courses were built around actual semesters, which enabled me to maintain study momentum and set targets for completing the various course modules.
Did fitting in study around your job present a difficult balancing act?
Yes, it can be difficult and in my view requires some basic skills, such as good time management, note-taking skills and reading skills. Many students underestimate the usefulness of mastering these skills during their studies and in real life.
Have you found the course content of your degree relevant to the job you are doing today?
Highly relevant, although many of the examples were from the agricultural sector. The course material considered the theory and in many cases considered practical real-life examples. This is important when studying subjects like environment and dealing with abstract concepts in economics.
How involved have you been with other alumni activities (with the University of London or other institutions)?
I have had limited involvement in view of the demands of my responsibilities and since I reside outside the UK it is not practical for me to attend events. However, I have offered careers guidance to prospective graduates, and remain available to do so.
What have been some of the high points since being Special Advisor to the President on Environmental Issues?
High points have been the opportunity given to me to establish the first University in Seychelles. Initially it was a journey of discovery, as I learned of the transformational power of a University in society, and how it can influence the future development of a country. I am now even more convinced that without a University Seychelles cannot take its next developmental steps. I am especially grateful to all the people that have contributed so generously to the cause. Our funds keep increasing and more people are giving.
Supporting the international vision of the President to advance climate change and biodiversity issues has also brought some rewards. The Global Island Partnership, which the President championed in 2005, has now been officially recognised by the Convention on Biological diversity, and my work on global oceans and island policy is increasingly being recognised by the international community. The personal invitation of the UN Secretary General to address a high level panel at the UN General Assembly was evidence of this recognition.
What are your principal aims over the next 5 years?
I aim to continue to push the global agenda on climate change and biodiversity in small islands. I want to bring the business and corporate world on board and my knowledge of economics and business will come in handy, as it helps me to relate to their way of thinking and how we can search for practical solutions to some of the emerging environmental issues. I particularly want to continue to focus on marine issues. At the national level I will continue to influence government policy on environmental, in particular coastal management issues. However, I have also started to work with certain non-governmental organisations and building their capacity to respond to climate change.
The main aim is, of course, to get the University up and running. 2009 will be a crucial year as we start putting the different building blocks together
On a personal level, I need to find a bit more time to pursue my research and publish scientific papers. This is important within academic circles and my aim is to publish at least 3 peer reviewed papers every year.
What are the problems and concerns you think you will face?
In my work, I have only one unresolved problem – TIME. Being on a small island has its challenges such as lack of good professionals, slow internet connections and, of course, travelling. Travelling is a necessary evil to build partnerships, advance projects and issues, and general social networking. I believe in building and nurturing relationships and I value the interactions and support I get from my international community of colleagues and supporters. Without them I would not be able to achieve this kind of progress.
You hold many qualifications from Universities all over the world, including Harvard. Would you say that continuing to develop your skills is important for career development?
A must. My daily passion is to learn something new every day. Life is a learning window. You learn from the young and old, the wise and the foolish. The pursuit of knowledge has been a lifelong passion. My education, however, has taught me that it’s what you do with the knowledge that counts, not how much knowledge you have. This ability is a gift and such a gift is meant to be shared, contribute to solutions and make the world a better living place.
You are chairman of the Seychelles University Foundation. What are your hopes for the educational system there?
In doing the ground work to establish the University, I realised that it cannot stand on its own – a University needs good students, implying good primary and secondary schools. In 2007, the President launched a national education reform process in which I have been fully involved, and next year we are going to implement measures to improve the quality of education in our schools, build confidence in our teachers and also offer students opportunities to develop their potential either by following an academic track to the proposed University, or the possibility of going back to University from the world of work. This is one lesson I have learnt from the University of London External System, lifelong learning has to be central to any educational programme. Once the adults are convinced about learning, then the kids will get interested as well...and the cycle goes on.
What is your major concern at present regarding climate change?
My major concern is that many people think that the problem of climate change will just go away, and powerful governments will be able to solve the problem. Climate change politics is a very complex issue – how do you convince an American driver to change from a high octane car to an electric buggy? How do you convince a hotel developer to build his hotel further inland instead of on the beach? Many consumers and companies are now aware, but we still lack political commitment at the international level. Clearly, oil prices have driven the message home, but we are not out of the woods yet. The scientific evidence is overwhelming; we need decisive action by world leaders.
As Chairman and CEO at Sea Level Rise Foundation and living in an archipelago such as the Seychelles do you feel that climate change and issues such as rising sea levels are more important to you?
The issue of sea level rise is already affecting many islands in the Pacific, and close by – the Maldives. This is no simple matter as it questions the ability of these people to remain as a nation and maintain their 3,000-year old traditions. The foundation has one mission – to preserve the island home. We feel that, assuming world leaders take action now, we can adapt to the changes in sea level rise through better planning, capacity building, and awareness and minimise the loss. We draw our hope from the people of the Netherlands who already live below the sea level. We believe we can develop approaches to live in a post-sea level rise world.
How did you feel when you shared the Nobel Prize for lead author which was awarded to the IPCC and Al Gore in 2007?
Excited and proud to be Seychellois. We are a small nation and I never thought a Nobel Prize would be achievable by a Seychellois. I was wrong, we can...anyone can. I never felt the need to adorn my wall with my degree certificates - my Nobel Prize Certificate hangs proudly in my office.
What is the one thing you would like to do or see in your lifetime?
Go into space...well OK, I would like to see a robust network of conservation areas in Seychelles which is self-financed, a solution for the climate change problem and on a personal level – transform my house and car to run on solar energy.
What would you most like to be doing 5 years from now?
I like my current activities as it challenges all of my knowledge and skills. Solving problems of national importance is not to be taken lightly as it impacts on people. It is an enormous responsibility but one I thoroughly enjoy. I work in an innovative and forward thinking environment which enables me to contribute to the long-term development of the country and be part of charting the next steps for Seychelles. It is an immense privilege which I will continue to be grateful for. After this, we’ll see. However, I must confess: my wish is to retire, say around 60, in a small office at the University of Seychelles, contributing to the development of future leaders.
Rolph holds degrees from the following universities:
- PhD Environmental Science (University of Kalmar, Sweden)
- JFK School of Government (Harvard University, USA)
- PG D Applied Environment Economics (University of London External System, UK)
- MSc Coastal Science (University of Ulster, UK)
- MBA (University of Surrey, UK)
- BSc (Hons.) Biochemistry (University of East Anglia, UK)
To read more about Rolph and his work you can visit: www.rolphpayet.com [external link]
