UniSey course participants receive certificates |27 July 2023

The group who followed the Diploma in Journalism course proudly pose with their certificates

A group of seventeen students who have completed two courses at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) received their certificates in a short ceremony held yesterday afternoon at the university’s Anse Royale campus.

Ten of them have completed a three-year Diploma course in journalism – the first cohort to do so since enrollment in March 2020.

The other seven have completed a one-year course in the Commonwealth of Learning Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Public Administration (CLMBA/CLMPA).

They received their certificates and transcripts in the presence of the vice-chancellor, Joëlle Perreau, the chief executive of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Berard Duprès, the chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) Albert Duncan, UniSey executive members and staff, associate lecturers and other distinguished guests.

Dubbed the SBC Journalism Scholarship, the Diploma course in Journalism is a collaboration between the national broadcaster and the University of Seychelles, signed in May 2018.

It should be noted that the certificate recipients will graduate alongside other university students in the main ceremony scheduled for December 7, 2023.

Speaking to the press, the Dean of the faculty of Arts and Social Development, Dr Justin Zelime, said UniSey has decided that all groups that complete their courses soon after the main graduation ceremony in early December, and which in effect had to wait nearly a year for graduation, will now be presented with their certificates. The journalism cohort completed their studies in mid-December 2022 while the CLMBA/CLMPA cohort ended theirs in January 2023.  

“This will allow them to present their certificates and results as early as possible to their workplaces for administrative matters and also as proof or evidence that they have completed the course. This is now possible without them having to present their certificates one year later after graduating in the next graduation ceremony,” Dr Zelime explained.

He added another reason was that it was not always easy to interact with all graduates during the main ceremony and adopting a certificate presentation in small groups will allow the management to congratulate each and every one personally.

In addressing the students, both Dr Zelime and the Dean of Faculty of Business and Sustainable Development, Dr Michael Hall, thanked the students on their achievements, called on them to put into practice what they have learned for the benefit of the country and also urged them to encourage others to join their respective courses, among other courses being offered by the university.

SBC’s chief executive, Mr Duprès, who five of his staff followed the Diploma in Journalism course, said the completion of the course is a cause for celebration given that it is the first to be held at university level in the country.

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert