The University of Seychelles (UniSey) and the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) have signed an agreement that will further develop cooperation between the two institutions. The memorandum of understanding was signed at a ceremony in August at La Misere by the Academy’s principal Flavien Joubert and UniSey vice chancellor Dr. Rolph Payet.
Guests at the ceremony included Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam, Secretary of State and chairman of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Barry Faure, representatives of Shannon College of Ireland, Seychelles Tourism Board CEO Alain St.Ange, and industry partners.
The MOU covers several aspects including training for both students and members of the staff. There will also be an exchange of students and lecturers, such as UniSey providing teachers in finance, marketing, statistics, and human resources, while STA provides specialists in, for example, housekeeping, restaurant and bar work, and food preparation, as well as sharing facilities such as libraries and equipment.
The signing of this MOU is timely since UniSey will be launching its new degree program soon, aimed at training future tourism executives and managers.
Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board and eTurboNews ambassador said that it was important for the different educational institutions to be working together. “Our Tourism Academy and the Seychelles University are both working for Seychelles, and working together will make for a stronger approach to better deliver to the youth of our tropical islands,” St.Ange said.
SEYCHELLES TOURISM ACADEMY AND BEACHCOMBER HOTELS RENEW PARTNERSHIP
The month of August saw another signing ceremony for Seychelles Tourism Academy, this time the renewal of a cooperation agreement with the Beachcomber Hotel Group based in Mauritius, an agreement signed originally in 2007. The venue for the event was the Beachcomber Sainte Anne resort and spa, and in attendance were Secretary of State and Seychelles Tourism Board chairman Mr. Barry Faure, the Board’s chief executive officer Mr. Alain St.Ange, the principal secretary for employment Mrs. Marina Confait, chief executive officer of the National Human Resources Development Council Mr. Christian Cafrine, Seychelles Tourism Academy chairman Mr. Phillip Guitton, Tourism Academy Committee members, and tourism industry stakeholders.
The Seychelles Tourism Academy was represented by Mr. Flavien Joubert, the head of the School, and Beachcomber Hotels was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Bertrand Piat, the hotel group’s human resource adviser, who expressed pleasure to renew this partnership with the Seychelles Tourism Academy. “The Seychelles Tourism Academy is a remarkable institution, well managed, well structured, taking measures commensurate with the needs and aspirations of Seychelles’ tourism industry,” he said.
Through the first agreement, lecturers and students were sent for training in pastry cuisine and front office. Mr. Flavien Joubert said this second agreement is for two years, and he wants to extend it so that young people working in hotels can also benefit from training in Mauritius through the Seychelles Tourism Academy. “The Tourism Academy would like to share some of this experience with young Seychellois professionals working full-time in the hotel industry here,” he said. He added that since Seychelles is a small island state, hotel staff and trainees have to be exposed to new experiences and have regular refresher courses.
Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said that the Tourism Academy will grow from strength to strength with the continued support from the private sector. “Beachcomber Hotels have experience in hospitality training, having had their own academy in Mauritius for many years. This MOU will keep our Tourism Academy providing for our young Seychellois looking at a career in the tourism industry,” Alain St.Ange said.
