TGMI hosts first graduation since inception |29 August 2022
• Appeals for support from government and private entities
The Guy Morel Institute is appealing to government and private entities to come forward and help it transform its workforce.
It was the acting executive director of the institution, Patrick Bristol, who made the appeal at Friday’s graduation ceremony at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel.
The graduation, the first since its inception in September 2018, was to recognise 184 graduates who had completed 15 qualification programmes with TGMI.
Among the cohort, 109 had completed different levels of the institute’s five accredited programmes, and 75 had followed six programmes under the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the University of London.
These courses included ccertificates in Immigration Studies, General Management, Human Resource Management and Office and Records Management. Some also studied for an advanced certificate in General Managementt, Human Resource Management, Diploma in General Management, Human Resource Management and Labour Studies.
The courses under the ACCA and the University of London were Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting for levels two and three, Diploma in Accounting and Business, Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business, and ACCA Strategic Professional Level.
When addressing the graduands, in the presence of Vice-President Ahmed Afif and other ministers, Mr Bristol highlighted TGMI’s various achievements since the beginning of September 1, 2018, following the signing of its Charter on May 16, 2018.
He pointed out that TGMI has six local Diploma programmes validated with exit points at Certificate and Advanced Certificate levels and the institution will welcome the first cohort on the newly validated Diploma in Banking in the Digital Age in January 2023.
TGMI also has two programmes validated at Certificate Level namely Certificate in Immigration Studies and Certificate in Public Procurement.
According to Mr Bristol ddiscussions are underway to validate the programmes up to Diploma level.
The Ma Joie-based institution continues also to offer various tailor-made short courses, workshops and in-house training in areas such as leadership, ICT skills, sales, marketing and financial services.
IT has also partnered with international organisation and offers the Association of Certified Chartered Account (ACCA) programmes ranging from Foundations in Accountancy to ACCA Affiliate Level.
Another new addition to its international programmes is the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply certification. The institution will soon host the computer-delivered Test IELTS exams for the British Council.
TGMI also received Full Accreditation from the Seychelles Qualifications Authority on its first application in December 2020.
However, despite all these achievements, Mr Bristol said the institution faces many challenges, and these include financial constraints, lack of human resource capacity, limited assets, shortage of rooms to deliver training and a liquidation process that remains unresolved for nearly 10 years now, among others.
“There is an urgency for the strong intervention of the relevant government authorities to help us address these deficiencies,” said Mr Bristol.
TGMI does not receive a budget from government but rather generates its revenue from the programmes and services offered at the institute.
“I therefore call upon any individual, private businesses, parastatal organisations who would like to support the institute in one way or another to please come forward and help us transform our workforce. My request to the government and legislators is to create the necessary mechanisms that will incentivise these private businesses to step up and support our professional centres,” he said.
Other than bestow certificates on the 184 graduands, Friday’s ceremony was also to recognise those who had excelled in their specific programme. They were presented with a certificate and prizes.
Anisya Renaud was the best performer in Certificate in Immigration studies, and Aaronn Marianne was the outstanding one for the Certificate in General Management.
The recipient for best performer in Certificate in Human Resource Management was Isha Gene Fanny, whereas Thyra Fred was the best performer for the Certificate in Office and Records Management.
Shena Labrosse clinched two prizes coming out on top in Advanced Certificate in General Management for Level 2 2019 for a Diploma in General Management Level 3.
The best performer in Advanced Certificate in General Management for level 2 2020 cohort was Jean-Marc Athanase.
Vanessa Adam Louise also received two awards, namely for best performer in Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management for Level 2 2019 and for a Diploma in Human Resource Management Level 3.
Also going away with two prizes was Marinette Freminot for winning the best performer in Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management for Level 2 in 2019 and the best performer in Diploma in Labour Studies Level 3.
The best performer in Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management for Level 2 was Sheryl Petra Labrosse.
Other recipients were Alberto Louis for best performer in Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting Level 2 and Christie Liza Malvina was the best performer in Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting, Level 2 2019.
Jenifer Lebon won two awards as best performer in Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting 2, 2020 as well as a Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting Level 3, 2020.
The best performer in Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting Level 2, 2021 and Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting Level 3, 2019 were Clara Iris Morel and Juliette Myrose Naiken respectively.
Krishna Vekariya was the overall best in two courses, namely, Diploma in Accounting and Business Level 4 for ACCA/BSc AA 2018 and Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business.
The best performer in Diploma in Accounting and Business Level 4 for ACCA/BSc AA 2019 was Nabhiha Dussoye, and Emilie Esparon was the overall best for the Diploma in Accounting and Business Level 4 for ACCA/BSc AA 2020.
For his part, Said Ron Samson was awarded as best performer for his Diploma in Accounting and Business Level 4 for ACCA/BSc AA 2021.
The best performer in ACCA Strategic Professional Level for ACCA 2018 and 2019 were, Rushi Shah and Charles Ally respectively.
During Friday’s ceremony, TGMI also presented two special awards. The first, the Guy Morel Lifelong Learning Award, recognises learners who continue to improve and excel. This year, it was awarded to Velma Esparon, who enrolled on the BSc in Applied Accounting in 2015 under a government scholarship. Ms Esparon completed her studies and won the best performer award for Diploma in Accounting and Business. She then did an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business where she excelled and won the Best Performer award.
She pursued her studies by doing a research analysis project with Oxford Brookes University for her undergraduate degree, and there again came out with first class honours, winning the best performer award for the third time.
Ms Esparon then proceeded to ACCA Strategic Professional Level and came out top.
In 2020, upon completion of ACCA Strategic Professional Level, she became eligible to enrol for MSc in Professional Accountancy, a programme offered by the University of London in collaboration with ACCA. She completed this programme with merit.
The second special award – Stronger together Leader Award – went to Maggie Dugasse for her motivation, determination, strong commitment and her role as a team player.
According to the institute, Mrs Dugasse demonstrated a strong commitment to working effectively with other peers. Mrs Dugasse was an active member of the Students’ Council and Cohort Representative Group and according to TGMI, she discharged her responsibility with diligence and enthusiasm.
Friday’s ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by Vanesa Adam Louise,on behalf of other graduates. She called on them to remember why they enrolled for the courses in the first place and to go back to their respective workplace and make a difference.
“Remember that the purpose for enrolling on our respective courses was to gain new skills and knowledge, all to become better leaders and managers in our various organisations. In one way or another, we are all change makers – change makers who are ready to take risks and settle for nothing less than excellence. Therefore, let us go out there and show the world what we are made of,” she said.
It should be noted this was the first graduation under TGMI as the previous ones were held under the umbrella of the University of Seychelles.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the graduation ceremony.
Patsy Canaya
Photos by Louis Toussaint
