UniSey inducts 68 new students |02 September 2021
The launch of the induction session yesterday (Photo: Jude Morel)
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) yesterday kicked off its three-day induction session with 68 students who will be undertaking degree and Masters level programmes with the institution, a journey which for most will last three years.
Of the 68 new intakes, the majority, precisely 50, are enrolled in Business Administration degrees, and will be the first cohort to benefit from the programme offered solely by UniSey, as opposed to previous cohorts who followed the course offered in partnership with the University of London (UOL). The remaining students are following the degree in Environmental Science, and the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration and Public Administration (CEMBA) or Commonwealth Masters in Business Administration or Public Administration (CEMPA).
As the programme is being offered by the university alone, the institution has broadened its scope to include an additional specialisation, meaning students on the Business administration courses have a choice of specialising in international relations, marketing, human resources, with the additional specialisation of financial services, which was not offered by UOL. This group of students officially started classes last Monday.
Yesterday’s session saw the students introduced to the Registrar, Student Services, Librarians, the Student Union and other services and facilities that will be crucial to them throughout their studies. During the afternoon, they also got to visit the different faculties.
Registrar of UniSey, Indra Persaud, in a virtual address, welcomed the students and took them through the hierarchy of the institution, as well as the academic calendar.
Dr Persaud highlighted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the institution is now conducting a significant proportion of classes and events virtually, through the Microsoft Teams platform. The platform allows for lecturers to teach classes virtually, while students can submit assignments through the platform as well.
Annia Marengo, a young ocean activist who had initially made the choice to study at the University of Plymouth after winning the Outstanding Student award at the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) in May 2020, opted for UniSey after overseas studies were put on hold on account of Covid-19.
“My expectations to study at home are exactly the same as to if I was to study abroad, as I am not much of a people person. I find that it might also be a great advantage to me, as I feel more comfortable at home, I have the support of my family and my partners. I am looking forward for the course, and I know it will prepare me for the future,” Ms Marengo noted.
The enthusiastic student is experienced in conservation but wishes to learn more about climate change, the biology of marine species and solutions to the climate crisis. Considering that a good component of the course might be online, Annia is looking forward to it, although like most students, she would like to see improved connectivity.
The same cohort will also be attending the induction session today and tomorrow.
Laura Pillay
