ISSUE No. 7: August 2013

E-NEWSLETTER

MINISTRY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION,

SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1 Editorial i

2 International Student of the Month 1

3 Presentation of Tertiary Education Sector

Strategic Plan 2013-2025 2

4 Launching of Wi-Fi @ University of

Mauritius and University of Technology,

Mauritius 2

5 Two detainees to follow Distance Learning

Courses offered by Open University 3

6 National Science Week at Bambous 4

7 Book Launch – Diversité Culturelle et

Interculturel: Quelle Assises pour la Paix? 5

8 Telugu Language Day - Opening of

Workshop on “Second Language Teaching” 5

9 Offer of Waiver by ACCA Mauritius 5

EDITORIAL TEAM

Mr. Nehrroy Seechurn

Ms. Shaina Woodun

CONTRIBUTORS

Ms. Kushal Ruggoo

EDITORIAL

The release of the Tertiary Education Sector Strategic

Paper 2013-2025 was the highlight of this month of

August.

Rehabilitation through Education! Two detainees are

following courses by distance learning as part of their

rehabilitation.

UoM and UTM students now surf the internet using Wi-Fi

technology, launched this month on the campus.

We continue our ‘International Student of the month’

series with Miss Baiketsi from Botswana! Stay tuned!

Editorial Team

1

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Name: Jessica Refilwe Baiketsi

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Country of Origin: Botswana

Studies Enrolled: BSc (Hons) Accounting (Minor:

Business Informatics) at the University of

Mauritius.

Jessica Baiketsi

A. For how long have you been studying in

Mauritius? Nearly 1 month.

B. How has your stay in Mauritius been so

far? Socially it has been really nice.

Language was quite a barrier when I came,

as I don`t speak French or creole. But

everything went really well once I joined the

University.

C. And how do you find the Mauritian people?

Mauritians are really friendly! When I first

came to UoM, I was lost. I could not get

around on the campus, but the students

guided me to my classes. Making friends

were not difficult at all.

D. Tell us about one thing you do not like

about Mauritius? The weather changes fast,

too fast for me (laughs)! In Botswana we

have two really distinct seasons, while here

you can get sun and rain in 5 minute

intervals.

E. Favourite place in Mauritius? I`ve been

going out in the Northern part of the island

mostly, and my favourite place would

definitely be Grand Baie La Croisette!

F. What is your favourite food? I am going

through a ‘salad phase’ right now but once

in a while I indulge in the typically Mauritian

‘Briyani’ and ‘Roti’.

G. Who or what do you miss most from

Botswana? My family.

H. How do you while away you free time in

Mauritius? I like going out with some friends

– we go shopping or to the beach. My

current obsession is working out, since I first

stepped into the UoM gym. Apart from that,

music (hip hop) and reality shows on TV.

I. If you could change one thing about

yourself, what would it be? Absolutely

nothing! I’m fine with who and how I am.

2

Presentation of the Tertiary Education Sector

Strategic Plan 2013-2025

The Tertiary Education Sector Strategic Plan

2013-2025 was launched on 15th August 2013.

The ultimate objective of the Plan is to

transform the country into a knowledge based

economy by 2025 and develop the knowledge

sector as a new pillar of the economy and

increase its current contribution of 2.7 % of GDP

to about 10% by 2025.

Based on consultations held with all major

stakeholders in the tertiary education sector,

five strategic goals were identified:

• Widening access and ensuring equity

• Improving Quality and Relevance

• Internationalisation of Tertiary Education

• Enhance Research and Innovation

• Strengthen Governance and Financial

Sustainability

Action will be geared towards increasing the

demand for higher education by promoting

lifelong learning, continuous professional

development, creating campus infrastructure,

increasing the diversity of programmes, flexible

learning opportunities and ensuring equity

throughout the system, as well as increasing the

enrolment of international students and

facilitating the entry, bridging the gap between

academic institutions and industry, addressing

employability issues and promoting research

and innovation.

A copy of the Strategic Plan is available at the

following link:

http://tertiary.gov.mu/English//DOCUMENTS/ST

RATEGY%20PAPER%202013%20WEB%20VERSIO

N.PDF

Launching of Wi-Fi @ University of Mauritius

and University of Technology, Mauritius

The Wireless Fidelity network was officially

launched on 20th August 2013 at the University

of Mauritius and the University of Technology,

Mauritius.

Both the Minister of Information and

Communication Technology and the Minister of

Tertiary Education, Science, Research and

Technology emphasised the importance of ICT in

improving access to knowledge ensuring equity.

3

The installation of Wi-Fi on our university

campuses will allow students to access the

university’s online portal where study material is

available.

Providing a rapid and reliable access to internet

in tertiary education institutions is also an

essential step in the promotion of Mauritius as a

regional and international education hub.

Two detainees to follow Distance Learning

Courses offered by Open University

Two detainees have been offered the

opportunity to follow Distance Learning Courses

in the field of Business Management during a

period of 3 years through a collaboration

between the Open University of Mauritius and

the Prisons Department.

This project has been identified as a meaningful

way to support the rehabilitation of detainees

and their integration in society after their

release. The Open University of Mauritius will

provide the necessary teaching materials to the

detainees.

The award ceremony was held at the Prison

Training School in Beau Bassin in the presence of

the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science,

Research and Technology, Dr. the Hon.

Rajeshwar Jeetah.

4

National Science Week at Bambous

The Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre continues its

outreach programme towards sensitizing the

general public about the importance of science

in their daily life as well as the role that science

plays in the different sectors of the Mauritian

economy.

The event was held on 27th and 28th August at

the Bambous Social Centre. Visitors , mainly

students came from Bambous and the

surrounding villages.

Book Launch – « Diversité Culturelle et

Interculturel: Quelle Assises pour la Paix? »

A new book titled “Diversité Culturelle et

Interculturel: Quelles Assises pour la Paix?” was

launched on 27th August 2013 by the Minister.

This book contains contributions from 14

international participants who are strong

activists for peace in their own societies. It has

been prefaced by Nobel Prize Winner, Mr. Jean

Marie Le Clézio.

Telugu Language Day - Opening of Workshop

on “Second Language Teaching”

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute, in collaboration

with the Telugu Speaking Union, the Mauritius

Andhra Maha Sabha and the Mauritius Telugu

Cultural Centre Trust celebrated the Telugu

Language Day with a workshop on Second

Language Teaching, held on 29th August.

5

Promoting Telugu as a second language is a

laudable initiative of the Mahatma Gandhi

Institute, which will soon start offering students

the opportunity to learn Telugu up to M.A. level.

Offer of Waiver by ACCA Mauritius

As a leading global professional accountancy

body with over 162,000 members and 426,000

students throughout the world, ACCA is

committed to providing active support to the

local accountancy and finance professions and

to playing a key role in promoting Mauritius as a

regional hub for international financial and

business services.

In Mauritius, ACCA helps some 12,000 students

and members to develop successful careers in

accounting and business by equipping them with

the skills needed by employers.

In a study on labour shortage in the Financial

Intermediation Sector last year, the Human

Resource Development Council pointed out a

significant shortage of finance professionals,

with ACCA being the preferred qualification in

accountancy.

One of ACCA's core values is to provide

education opportunities to one and all. With the

aim to help students access globally recognised

tertiary education in Mauritius, ACCA Mauritius

is currently offering a waiver on the initial

registration and first annual subscription fee,

amounting to a total of GBP 158, to all students

who wish to embark on ACCA training in

Mauritius. Registration with ACCA is open all

year round and is done online.

The ACCA Mauritius Office, located on the 1st

floor of NG Tower in Ebene, is in charge of

offering the waivers. In order to benefit from

this offer, interested parties are requested to

contact the ACCA Mauritius Office on

ACCA.Mauritius@accaglobal.com or 466 0750.

6