UniSey gets 54 scholarships and new website

Seychelles Nation - 07.12.2009
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) has been given 54 scholarships, nine by private organisations and 45 by the government.

Christian Cafrine, chief executive of the National Human Resources Development Council, and the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet signed a memorandum of understanding for the scholarships on Friday when Dr Payet also launched UniSey’s website: www.unisey.ac.sc

Among those who witnessed the signing and the launch at the National Institute of Education were Education Minister Bernard Shamlaye and members of the university’s board, its deans of faculties, students and their parents and representatives of the sponsors.

Dr Payet said the first ever UniSey students are about to finish their first term and “in three years’ time we will have the very first graduates from the university”.

He said the value of UniSey to the economy of Seychelles is starting to show, and the university is generating interest from different quarters including the private sector, which came up with the nine scholarships.

Dr Payet said he hopes for a total of 20 next year and noted that the university will grow when the School of Education is launched.

“In a couple of years we should be welcoming students from beyond our shores,” he said.

Efforts will continue to ensure the best level of education at the university – which has a partnership with the University of London – as steps are taken to see it gets its own buildings, he said.

He urged the students to take their studies seriously, reminding them that the three years will be a short but important period.

Disaster looms with rising sea levels: islands

From AFP Global Edition 

Rising sea levels that could wipe whole nations off the map and displace scores of millions of people are being overlooked in global climate change talks, island countries said Tuesday.

Major emitters are pushing for greenhouse gas emissions cuts that are too low to prevent devastating sea rises, representatives said at the World Ocean Conference in Indonesia's Manado city.

"Dealing with environmental refugees will have a much more serious impact on the global economy and global security in fact than what wars have ever done to this planet," said Rolph Payet, a presidential adviser from the African island nation of the Seychelles.

Other nations under threat from even small rises in sea levels include the Pacific island states of Kiribati and Tuvalu, while heavily populated low-lying areas such as Bangladesh's coastline would also go under.

The five-day conference has attracted hundreds of officials and experts from 70 countries and is being billed as a prelude to December talks on a successor to the expiring Kyoto Protocol.

Payet said there had been "zero" serious discussions in top international forums on how to deal with massive flows of "climate refugees" from low-lying and drought-prone areas.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted in 2007 that up to 150 million people could be displaced by the effects of climate change by 2050, which include sea level rises of as much as 59 centimetres (23 inches).

The Alliance of Small Island States is pushing for 85 percent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But Payet said the December talks in the Danish capital Copenhagen look set to produce an emissions cut target that would be too low to avert disaster.

The European Union has promised to reduce its emissions by 80 percent by mid-century and US President Barack Obama has proposed his country make an 83 percent cut.

But the details of any global agreement that would include major developing nation emitters such as China remain unknown.

Copyright 2009  AFP Global Edition

Trainee teachers briefed on UniSey courses

Seychelles Nation - 03.12.2009
Students from the National Institute of Education (NIE) yesterday learned more about the teacher training courses on offer at the University of Seychelles (UniSey).

Dr Payet, flanked by Mr Souffe (left) and Dr Ah-Thew,(photo above) addressing NIE students at yesterday’s talk

They were also briefed by UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet on how they will continue the training they have started at the NIE.

The talk took place at the NIE in the presence of principal secretary for education Jeanne Simeon, dean of the School of Sciences Dr George Ah-Thew, dean of the School of Humanities Dr Gerard Adonis and institute director Alex Souffe.

The students learned that the university’s School of Education will offer 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 subject specialist degree that will be followed by a one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Dr Payet said this specialist degree will be offered in a variety of subjects such as English, French, history and geography, and the university also plans to offer a master’s degree in education at a later stage.

He said these courses will be run in partnership with the Edith Cowan University in Australia, the University of London and the University of Reunion.

Dr Payet said students who are not admitted to the degree programme after the two-year foundation studies will be able to do another year and gain the assistant teacher certificate.

But he said this will be determined by the Ministry of Education, and UniSey will be working closely with the ministry to develop teacher training and help to raise the standards in our schools.

“The quality of teachers determines the quality of education that our children get in schools, and the training will help to upgrade our teachers,” he said.

Dr Payet told the students that the School of Education will give them a chance to get a recognised graduate teacher qualification, and even teachers with families will be able to graduate.

He said soon the students will apply to the university, and the faculty will meet them on an individual basis to discuss the courses.

All the training courses will start in January and February next year and will be based at UniSey’s Mont Fleuri campus, the current NIE complex.

Dr Payet said yesterday’s meeting was held because there was much misunderstanding regarding the transition that trainee teachers will make. During the talk the students were able to ask questions and seek clarification on the changes.

Today Dr Payet will meet students from the School of Advanced Level Studies to brief them on the new courses on offer next year.

President Michel at world food security summit

Seychelles Nation - 16.11.2009
President James Michel has been invited to address the World Food Security Summit at the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation headquarters in Rome, Italy which will be held from today to November 18.

The President will speak before the summit about Seychelles’ food security concerns, the effect of climate change on agriculture and availability of arable land as well as the impact of piracy on the fishing industry.

“In the run up to Copehangen, the lack of progress towards a legally-binding agreement for the Copenhagen summit has underlined the needs of Small Island Developing States to continue to press the developed world to address climate change as a matter of urgency,” a communiqué from State House quoted President Michel as saying.

Speaking soon after he ended a visit to Les Mamelles on Saturday morning, hours before leaving for Rome, Mr Michel told journalists that representing Seychelles at the World Food Summit is another opportunity to call the world’s attention to the concerns of Seychelles and other small island states.

“As President I feel it is my duty to represent Seychelles at the highest level at this important summit and champion the cause of small island states,” said Mr Michel.

He said it is the only way to get the attention and support of industrialised countries.

Noting that climate change impacts heavily and alarmingly on many countries’ food production, more particularly that of small island states like ours, Mr Michel said the world has to know that we need help to innovate and keep on producing to maintain our food security.

More than 60 world leaders are expected at the Rome summit, including Pope Benedict XVI.
The President’s delegation includes Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan, and Special Adviser for Environment Dr Rolph Payet.

Following his visit to Rome, the President has also been invited as a guest of honour to the Lebanon 2020 National Summit in Beirut. President Michel has been asked to share the experiences of Seychelles in sustainable development and environmental protection policies, and will be a keynote speaker at the summit.