Seychelles, La Réunion forge education partnership |23 May 2026

Minister Bernstein and Ambassador Tallineau exchanging documents after signing the MoU

The Ministry of Tourism and Culture of the Republic of Seychelles and the Académie de La Réunion have signed a new memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in education and professional training, particularly in the tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors.

The agreement was signed on May 19, 2026 at the Résidence de France in Seychelles by Minister Amanda Bernstein and the French ambassador to Seychelles, Anne Tallineau. It establishes a strategic framework to support skills development, educational excellence, and the long-term attractiveness of vocational training across both territories.

Building on past collaboration, including the successful Semaine de l’Excellence dedicated to healthy and sustainable gastronomy, the partnership highlights a shared commitment to promoting excellence in tourism and hospitality training.

Key priorities outlined in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) include:

• Enhancing vocational education to attract more students.
• Raising competencies to meet international standards.
• Supporting lifelong learning and professional mobility.
• Anticipating industry evolution through innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Minister Bernstein emphasised the importance of investing in people and preparing the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals.

“Our partnership with the Académie de La Réunion reflects our shared commitment to investing in people and preparing the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals for the future. By strengthening regional collaboration, we are creating valuable opportunities for skills development, knowledge exchange, and professional excellence that will not only benefit Seychelles and La Réunion but also contribute to enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the Indian Ocean tourism industry as a whole,” said Minister Bernstein.

Ambassador Tallineau added that cooperation must be “living, embodied, and human”, stressing the value of direct collaboration between institutions and educators.

“La convention entre la Seychelles Tourism Academy et le lycée hôtelier Christian Antou donnera un visage très concret à cette coopération, au plus près des jeunes et des équipes pédagogiques. Ces signatures sont importantes, parce qu’entre nos îles, la coopération ne doit pas être seulement institutionnelle ; elle doit être vivante, incarnée et humaine.”

To oversee the partnership, a joint steering committee will coordinate programmes, monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes. The committee will meet annually and work closely with educational institutions, industry operators, and associations.

The ceremony also marked the renewal of a separate MoU between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Lycée Hôtelier Christian Antou, further reinforcing educational and professional ties between Seychelles and La Réunion.

Contributed