ISSUE No. 9: October 2013
MINISTRY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
E-NEWSLETTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL The main event of the month of October was ‘Les Assises de L’Enseignement Supérieur’, a forum organized by the Ministry to obtain the views of all stakeholders on Higher Education.
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Universiade 2013 – Students are given the opportunity to display their abilities in sports.
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Wheat Harvest in Mauritius! The second phase of the wheat cultivation project culminating in the harvest programme at Petit Merlot, Midlands.
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Who is the ‘International Student of the month’? Find out 13
more in this edition!
14 Editorial Team
Editorial International Student of the Month Les Assises de L`Enseignement Supérieur Universiade 2013 RGSC - Science on the Move Sky Observation Programme at Bell Village and Medine Camp de Masque Inception Workshop on Coastal Engineering and Climate Change Adaptation Wheat Harvest at Petit Merlot Minister Dr. R. Jeetah` s Mission to Kyoto and China Mrs. A. Jeewa elected Chairperson of DEASA Open University New Free Courses Commonwealth of Learning Regional Focal Points Meeting in May 2014 International Medical ConferenceEmerging issues in primary health care Courtesy Calls
EDITORIAL TEAM Ms. Shaina Woodun Mr. Nehrroy Seechurn
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Apart from that I enjoy the peace and
Name: Cynthia Ochoga
calmness of the island. C. What is your greatest boast? Leading almost
Zodiac Sign: Libra Country of Origin: Nigeria
300 international students in 2 years as the
Studies Enrolled: Psychology and Counselling
MISAM (Middlesex University International students Association Mauritius) president and taking the association to great heights. D. Which historical figure do you most identify with? Hillary Clinton E. What is your favourite food? Yam, which is a staple food in Nigeria. F. Your greatest fear? Not reaching my full potential at an early age. G. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you? 1. My smartphone
Cynthia Ochoga
2. Water
A. Why did you choose Mauritius when you
3. A duvet
had the choice of studying in your own
H. What
country and enjoy the comfort of living with
is your
most irritating
habit?
Cleaning!! My friends complain about my
your parents and seeing your friends? Since
“obsessive� personal hygiene.
Mauritius offers internationally recognised
I.
qualifications and because I wanted a British
Your motto? Anything is achievable if you work with it.
degree as well as the experience of pursuing my dreams on my own; so Mauritius was the perfect choice for a study destination. B. And your first impressions about the island? A nice and conducive place to study. Mauritians are unique and very hospitable towards international students. I have changed a lot since coming to Mauritius, becoming more self-reliant and ambitious.
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Les Assises de L`Enseignement Superieur The
Ministry
L’Enseignement
organised
the
Supérieur
as
Assises a
ii. Higher Education, Labour Market And Employability:
de
national
Keynote
consultative forum on Wednesday 30 and
Speaker:
Mr.
Ahmed
Parkar,
Chairperson, Joint Economic Council
Thursday 31 October 2013.
iii. Higher Education and Research For National Development: Keynote Speaker- Professor Nikolaos Donos, Director of Research Strategy of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute and the Chair of the Department of Clinical Research iv. Expansion Of Higher Education - Quality Issues: Keynote Speaker- Maureen Mclaughlin, Assistant Director, Quality Assurance Agency, UK v. Effective Academic Leadership: Keynote
The forum grouped 130 participants from the
Professor
private sector, ministries, departments, Non-
Speakerof
Professor
Leadership
and
Linda
Evans,
Professional
Learning, University of Leeds
governmental organisations, tertiary education institutions, academics, researchers and students
The forum saw the participation of more than
representatives.
130 persons from the different sectors linked to
Distinguished
international
resource persons were invited to be keynote
tertiary
speakers.
presentations can be viewed on our website
i. Globalisation
Of
Higher
Education
education
in
Mauritius.
The
http://tertiary.gov.mu/English/Pages/Presentati
–
ons.aspx
Opportunities And Threats: Keynote Speaker- Mr. Brandon Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Council for Private Education, Singapore
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Universiade 2013
17 participating institutions with over 1500 participants were engaged in the event. Some of the participating institutions were: Mauritius The
Inter
Tertiary
Institutions
Institute
Sports
of
Education,
UniversitĂŠ
des
Mascareignes, Rushmore Business School, JSS
Competition, Universiade launched in 2011, has
Academy, Anna Medical College, Amity Institute
turned into an annual event.
of Higher Education, UoM, Elite School of This event is organised in close collaboration with
Business and Finance, Middlesex University
the
(MBC), Whitefield Business School, FDI, BSP
Ministry
of
Youth
and
Sports.
School of Accountancy &Management, CTI, The Executive Business & Computational Institute, LCA, JR School, UTM, MGI, SSR Medical College, University of Wolverhampton (MBC) and Arya Sabha Mauritius. The sports activities were as follows: Athletics (Men and Women), Football (Men), Volleyball (Men and Women), Basketball (Men and Women), Table Tennis (Men and Women), Badminton (Men and Women), Cricket (Men), Tug of war and Rugby 7; the TEC introduced two new sports event for the Universiade 2013. They University of Mauritius was the overall winner of
were Cross-country and Handball (Men and
Universiade 2013 with a total of 85 medals (Gold:
Women).
25; Silver: 32; Bronze: 28). Mauritius Institute of Universiade 2013 was held from 11-25 October
Education came second with 63 medals (Gold: 25;
2013.
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Silver: 11; Bronze: 27) and at the third place was
Science demonstrations consist of a series of
Charles Telfair Institute.
interactive
and
eye
catching
science
demonstrations to explain science concepts and their applications in daily life, in a fun manner. During
the
observation
show and
audience critical
involvement,
thinking
were
encouraged. Targeted primarily at the general public, Science on the Move engages all age groups about the
Science on the Move
wonders of science. About 1200 persons visited
In line with its mission, to popularize Science and
the stands of this exhibition.
Technology among the population through various media, the RGSC has already launched a
Sky Observation programme at Bell Village
new initiative called “Science on the Move�.
and Medine Camp de Masque
This activity comprises a set of mobile interactive
The Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre (RGSC)
exhibits and hands-on science demonstrations.
organized one Sky Observation programme in the
The second Science on the Move was held at
premises of the Centre at Bell Village on 11
Flacq Shopping Mall on 25-26 October 2013.
October 2013 and another one at Medine Camp de Masque on 18 October 2013.
Science on the Move mobile interactive exhibits are an intriguing exploration of a broad range of
About 600 visitors benefitted from the above
scientific themes such as human biology, physics,
activities of the Sky Observation Programme. The
chemistry and mathematics. Science on the
staff of RGSC was pleased to answer questions
Move has a set of hands-on experiences and
regarding astronomy from the visitors.
investigations that engage the mind and body.
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cultivation project, Dr Jeetah said that his ministry and the MRC will work together to devise
new
schemes
to
encourage
the
entrepreneurs to join this endeavour. He added that though wheat cultivation in Mauritius is still in the early phase of experimentation, it will not be long before Mauritius will develop the required technology and be exporting its technological know-how to other countries.
Wheat Harvest at Petit Merlot The second phase of the Experimental Wheat Cultivation
project,
spearheaded
by
the
Mauritius Research Council (MRC), is well underway, with the first harvest of the season held at Petit Merlot in Midlands.
A more in-depth laboratory analysis of the wheat harvested in Phase II will be performed in order to validate the results obtained previously. After harvest, the wheat will be processed into flour and the quality will be evaluated.
To mark the event, a harvest ceremony was organised on 24th October 2013 at Petit Merlot Highlighting
the
entrepreneurs,
opportunities in
particular,
for
small women
entrepreneurs in enrolling in the wheat
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Minister Dr. R. Jeetah`s Mission to Kyoto
Mrs. A. Jeewa elected Chairperson of
and China
DEASA
The Minister of Tertiary Education, Science,
Mrs. Ayesha Jeewa, Chairperson of the Board of
Research and Technology participated in the 10th
the Open University of Mauritius, was elected
Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in
President of the Distance Education Association
Society Forum which addressed a number of
of Southern Africa on 4th October 2013. The main
issues, including future energy supply, global
objective of the Association is to enable members
health problems, research into genomic and
to share information, collaborate in obtaining
regenerative medicine, global rules for ICT,
and developping quality distance education
including cyber security and privacy measures,
courses in identified areas of need, and organize
and coping with disasters through science and
relevant professional development activities.
research.
Open University New Free Courses The open University will run a free special
In the margins of the Forum, the Hon. Minister
teacher professional development programme,
has meetings, amongst others, with Mr. Ichita
based on Emerging Trends & Technologies in the
Yamamoto, Minister of State of Science and
Virtual Classroom offered on the Massive Open
Technology Policy and Space Technology, Japan;
Online
Mrs. Genevieve Fioraso, Minister of Higher
Course
platform
by
Coursera
in
partnership with the University of California
Education and Research of France and Mr. Mauro
Irvine, and targeting pre-primary, primary and
Dell`Ambrogio, State Secretary for Education,
secondary levels of education. The programme
Research and Innovation of Switzerland on
aims
collaboration in the tertiary education field. He
at
providing
support
to
Mauritian
participants and a gateway to personal and
also met a number of Vice-Chancellors and
professional development through free online e-
Presidents of tertiary education institutions.
resources and a face to face support framework within an online independent learning course.
In China, the Minister had a meeting with
Two
Professor Yi Hong, President of Southeast
best
students
would
be
awarded
scholarships for a degree course at the Open
University Nanjing, who agreed to provide
University, Mauritius. The Programme will cater,
support for the setting up of a Confucius Institute
in the first instance, for some 60 participants.
at the Open University of Mauritius and for teaching and research in electronics, architecture and civil engineering.
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Commonwealth of Learning Regional Focal
The
conference
focused
on
healthcare
Points Meeting in May 2014
management and primary healthcare education.
The Commonwealth of Learning Regional Focal
It provided a platform for international and local
Points Meeting, Africa & the Mediterranean will
speakers to share their expertise, experiences
be held in Mauritius in May 2014. The objectives
and challenges in healthcare transformation in
of the Meetings are to:
their countries. Several internationally renowned
a) Share information about the status of
experts in chronic disease management, primary
open and distance learning in each
care education, public health, health quality
participating country;
innovations,
dental
health
and
clinical
b) Provide a mid-term report of what the
governance were present to share their
Commonwealth of Learning has done in
knowledge and experiences with local doctors.
each country; and
Imperial College has discussed with Open
c) Identify the education and training
University on the programme for Masters in
priorities that the Commonwealth of
Public Health.
Leaning can support.
International
Medical
Conference-
Emerging issues in primary health care The Medical and Dental Conference on Health Care Management and Primary Health Care organised in partnership with Imperial College, London, took place at the Grand Bay Conference Centre on 22 October 2013. It was an opportunity for dental and medical professionals to address emerging issues in healthcare.
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Courtesy Calls
Visit of Mr. Brandon Lee Chief Executive Officer, Council of Private Education,
Visit of delegation from Imperial College
Singapore
Delegation from UK
Visit of a delegation from the University of Lancashire (UCLAN)
Visit of Mrs. Maureen McLaughlin, Assistant Director, Quality Assurance Agency UK in Mauritius
Visit of Mrs Maureen Mc Laughlin, Director Reviews, Quality Assurance Agency, UK
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