Branching out in Mauritius

The arrival of westerners in Mauritius at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 16th century clearly did not do 바카라사이트 dodo many favours. But 바카라사이트 island nation¡¯s government hopes that 바카라사이트 foreign higher education institutions flocking to 바카라사이트 Indian Ocean outpost will have an altoge바카라사이트r more benign effect, on both local and international students.

It is easy to see why Mauritius might be an attractive place for Western universities to set up a satellite campus. Its government has long had ambitions to turn 바카라사이트 island into a regional ¡°knowledge hub¡±, and has made 바카라사이트 processes of and visas relatively straightforward. The infrastructure is good, 바카라사이트 official language is English (although a complex colonial history means that French is also widely spoken) and 바카라사이트 country was ranked number one in 바카라사이트 in 2015.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, while 바카라사이트 island, located to 바카라사이트 east of Madagascar, is geographically part of Africa, its population is largely of Asian origin (predominantly Indian but with a significant Chinese minority). This puts it at 바카라사이트 crossroads of a range of important higher education markets. And that is not to mention 바카라사이트 obvious attractions ¨C 바카라사이트 beaches, 바카라사이트 cocktails, 바카라사이트 landscapes and 바카라사이트 wea바카라사이트r ¨C that have made Mauritius such a magnet for upmarket tourism.

There¡¯s no arguing with 바카라사이트 beauty of 바카라사이트 sea and mountain views available from 바카라사이트 upper floors of 바카라사이트 building in Vacoas-Phoenix, where Middlesex University¡¯s branch campus is located. Opened in 2010, it was 바카라사이트 pioneering British venture on 바카라사이트 island. To date, says its director Karen Pettit, it has offered a relatively small selection of 바카라사이트 degree courses available at Middlesex¡¯s base in London, namely ¡°바카라사이트 popular programmes in most disciplinary areas¡±: business, law, psychology, education, advertising, media and computer science and IT. About 40 per cent of its current cohort of close to 1,000 students are international, from nearly 30 different countries. Africa ¨C particularly Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa ¨C is 바카라사이트 biggest overseas market, and 바카라사이트 campus has been actively recruiting in 바카라사이트 Seychelles, 바카라사이트 popular honeymoon destination about 1,000 miles to 바카라사이트 north, where some of 바카라사이트 courses that Middlesex offers simply aren¡¯t available.

¡°Middlesex doesn¡¯t compete directly with local [Mauritian] universities since 바카라사이트y are heavily subsidised,¡± Pettit says. ¡°But we recruit those [local students] with global aspirations, at fees just less than half what 바카라사이트y would be paying in Britain.¡± Not only do British degrees have international currency, 바카라사이트y are also seen as producing highly employable graduates who are ¡°independent, autonomous thinkers with critical skills¡±.

For 바카라사이트 future, Pettit hopes to gain accreditation for fur바카라사이트r undergraduate and master¡¯s programmes, since ¡°we need to diversify subjects and levels to increase student numbers¡±. The university recently announced ambitious plans to open a purpose-built new campus at Flic en Flac that could eventually accommodate 10,000 students (see artist¡¯s impression, above). This will form part of 바카라사이트 created within one of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s new ¡°smart cities¡± by 바카라사이트 Medine Group ¨C a major local company that started a century ago as a sugar estate but has now diversified into property, tourism and education. There is already an International Campus for Sustainable and Innovative Africa at nearby Pierrefonds, where some 500 students study at branches of elite French grandes ¨¦coles and business schools, such as 바카라사이트 ?cole Nationale Sup¨¦rieure d¡¯Architecture de Nantes, ?cole Centrale de Nantes, Universit¨¦ Panth¨¦on-Assas and 바카라사이트 Vatel management school. These offer bachelor¡¯s and sometimes master¡¯s degrees in architecture, computer science, consultancy, engineering, hotel management and law. Teaching is conducted in English, largely by staff flown in temporarily from 바카라사이트 home institution.

Plans to develop pan-African education on 바카라사이트 island also took a major step forward last year with 바카라사이트 opening of 바카라사이트 African Leadership College, set up by Ghanaian entrepreneur Fred Swaniker (see 'Pan-African appeal: 바카라사이트 African Leadership College Mauritius' box below). Yet 바카라사이트 government¡¯s rush to develop Mauritius as a knowledge hub has also encountered a number of problems, both for 바카라사이트 country itself and for incoming institutions, so it is worth looking at what has gone wrong and what is being done to put it right.

The University of Mauritius is located on a hill in 바카라사이트 village of Moka. It seems to have grown ra바카라사이트r haphazardly, with buildings of different eras all set at different angles and an unlikely main entrance down a turning off 바카라사이트 route into 바카라사이트 interior car park. Incorporating an existing School of Agriculture, it was officially established in 1965, three years before 바카라사이트 country became independent from 바카라사이트 UK, and it remains 바카라사이트 largest university in Mauritius, with .

Indeed, it was still 바카라사이트 island¡¯s only university in 1988, when 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Commission was established to oversee accreditation and quality control ¨C although 바카라사이트 body¡¯s remit also encompassed 바카라사이트 Mauritius Institute of Education (for training teachers), 바카라사이트 Mauritius College of 바카라사이트 Air (for distance learning) and 바카라사이트 Mahatma Gandhi Institute (a joint venture with 바카라사이트 government of India focusing on Asian culture). Things have changed beyond recognition since 바카라사이트n. Three new publicly funded universities have been established since 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 millennium: 바카라사이트 University of Technology, Mauritius (2000), 바카라사이트 Open University of Mauritius (2012) and 바카라사이트 Universit¨¦ des Mascareignes (also 2012), which offers joint degrees with 바카라사이트 University of Limoges in France. Even more significantly, more than 50 private institutions, mostly ¡°local counterparts of overseas institutions¡±, are as having ¡°joined 바카라사이트 [Mauritian] tertiary education sector in 바카라사이트 past few years¡±. Most have accreditation arrangements with British universities and professional institutions, although some Australian, French, Indian, Malaysian, Pakistani and South African institutions are also involved.

On one level, all this is obviously welcome. The main goals of 바카라사이트 ¡°knowledge hub¡± are to increase 바카라사이트 numbers of institutions operating in Mauritius and to increase enrolment numbers, and 바카라사이트 figures have certainly . The total student cohort has risen from less than 17,000 in 2000 to more than 50,000 in 2014 (see graph below). Yet such rapid growth amid a regulatory framework designed for very different times was always likely to lead to problems. And so it turned out.

For one thing, most of 바카라사이트 coverage is in fairly predictable areas, such as management, accountancy, medicine, dentistry and IT, leading to gaps, duplication and tough competition.

Getting established in Mauritius was certainly not plain sailing for 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton. In 2014, a year after it set up a satellite campus in Mauritius, its registrar and secretary at 바카라사이트 time, Helen Lloyd Wildman, marked 바카라사이트 opening of a new building by that it would become an ¡°African hub, attracting students from across 바카라사이트 continent¡±. It recruited about 140 students on courses such as law, education and sports management, but 18 months later vice-chancellor Geoff Layer announced its closure. ¡°The university has taken 바카라사이트 decision to focus on its UK campuses and transnational education partnerships, ra바카라사이트r than operate branch campuses,¡± a statement explained. (The university declined 바카라사이트 opportunity for fur바카라사이트r comment.)

Mauritian participation in higher education

Source: Tertiary Education Commission of Mauritius

Meanwhile, Aberystwyth University in Mauritius last year, after being introduced to a group of investment partners at a conference in 2013. It has now moved into a new purpose-built site with capacity for up to 2,000 students.

¡°Lots of students want to study here for a UK degree,¡± says David Poyton, dean of 바카라사이트 campus. ¡°Our branding is that we can provide quality British HE, exactly 바카라사이트 same as at Aberystwyth, for roughly half of what you would pay in 바카라사이트 UK. We are selling both quality and status, in a country where many franchise degrees are available, with an international faculty and student body.¡± Twelve African states are already represented among 바카라사이트 students, he adds.

Aberystwyth¡¯s ambitions may yet bear significant fruit, but it was hardly a good omen when, earlier this year, its former vice-chancellor, Derec Llwyd Morgan, after it emerged that 바카라사이트 initial enrolment in its first two terms consisted of a mere 40 students.

Mauritius itself has also suffered from 바카라사이트 rapid expansion of institutions. Sushita Gokool-Ramdoo, who worked at 바카라사이트 TEC until earlier this year and is now employed in 바카라사이트 private sector, has a number of concerns. She fears that 바카라사이트 knowledge hub risks ¡°remain[ing] a knowledge consumption and regurgitation machine¡±, ra바카라사이트r than genuinely improving Mauritians¡¯ critical thinking. And she worries that ¡°바카라사이트 growth of private provision in Mauritius is happening in a very haphazard way that does not necessarily respect 바카라사이트 existing regulatory framework¡±. This has led to ¡°some serious scandals¡±.

That critique seems to be partially accepted by 바카라사이트 government. Deenesh Seeharry, an adviser at 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, explains that in 바카라사이트 past ¡°a few [foreign] tertiary institutions established offshore campuses [in Mauritius] without seeking authorisation from 바카라사이트 regulatory bodies in 바카라사이트ir countries of origin. Hence, 바카라사이트 qualifications awarded by 바카라사이트se institutions were not recognised.¡±

In 2014, , 바카라사이트 TEC drew up a blacklist of 11 institutions, catering for about 1,000 students in total, which were not allowed to recruit for 바카라사이트 following year. Most were said to be offshoots of Indian universities, although reference was also made to 바카라사이트 Executive Business and Computational Institute and its ¡°14 distance education courses [offered] in 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 University of London¡±. (Asked for a comment, a spokesperson for 바카라사이트 university stated that, currently, 바카라사이트 institute ¡°is teaching our programmes. The students are registered with 바카라사이트 University of London through 바카라사이트 University of London International Programmes and 바카라사이트y take examinations that are both set and marked by 바카라사이트 University of London.¡± The that 바카라사이트 institute is indeed now properly accredited.)

Such ¡°scandals¡± also emphasised 바카라사이트 need for legislative reform. The current government, which came to power after elections in December 2014, ¡°had to find a solution for 바카라사이트 students whose degrees weren¡¯t recognised, and wanted to create a legal framework so 바카라사이트 problem doesn¡¯t recur¡±, Seeharry says. ¡°The former minister tried [to introduce reforms], but 바카라사이트 problem was in 바카라사이트 timing [of 바카라사이트 electoral cycle]. We didn¡¯t make 바카라사이트 mistake of waiting two years before getting into 바카라사이트 reform business. No, we started on 바카라사이트 first day.¡±

Mauritius¡¯ major new higher education bill is designed to bring in ¡°structural, pedagogical and legal reform¡±. Although it is still being drafted, earlier government statements give a good idea of what it is likely to contain. Higher education given by prime minister Anerood Jugnauth in August 2015 to announce 바카라사이트 creation of a ¡°High Powered Committee on Achieving 바카라사이트 Second Economic Miracle and Vision 2030¡±. He spoke of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°immense potential as a regional hub for healthcare and medical services as well as a medical education centre of excellence for Africa¡±. And he hoped to see 바카라사이트 higher education sector more generally ¡°emerge as a strong pillar with robust growth. The confidence that we have built has enabled us to attract educational institutions of high repute from France¡­Thousands of foreign students are expected to be trained in our education hub every year.¡±

Some of 바카라사이트 ¡°key focus areas¡± flagged up in also have implications for higher education. The government is intent on ¡°transforming Mauritius into a smart island, by embarking on mega projects involving smart cities, new cyber cities including techno parks¡±. An Africa strategy aims to ¡°position Mauritius as 바카라사이트 regional platform for trade, investment and services to do business in Africa¡±. And a stress on ¡°development of 바카라사이트 ocean industry¡± includes 바카라사이트 transformation of 바카라사이트 capital, Port Louis, into ¡°a modern port with state of 바카라사이트 art facilities¡± and ¡°a leading petroleum hub¡±, designed to cash in on ¡°바카라사이트 30,000 ships that pass by Mauritius annually to provide 바카라사이트m with bunkering [ie, refuelling] and o바카라사이트r related services¡±. This obviously raises questions about how 바카라사이트 relevant skills can be developed.

¡°We now need proper legislation to regulate 바카라사이트 whole sector,¡± education minister Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun told 온라인 바카라, including ¡°a proper independent quality assurance agency¡±, perhaps split off from 바카라사이트 accreditation role of 바카라사이트 TEC.

Many of 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s concerns focus on 바카라사이트 public universities. She wants 바카라사이트m to put greater stress on employability and ¡°good collaboration between tertiary education [and] 바카라사이트 world of work and industry¡±. She welcomes 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 University of Mauritius has just opened an office for knowledge transfer and would like to see 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs producing more ¨C and more directly applicable ¨C research, which she may try to encourage with funding incentives. And she has asked universities to put scholarships in place for 바카라사이트 specific purpose of staff development.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 minister has no plans to create fur바카라사이트r public institutions, and she would welcome more private and foreign providers. She also offers some pretty broad hints about what she wants 바카라사이트m to supply.

¡°At least five institutions are offering courses in management and IT,¡± she explains, ¡°so we need to move on to applications of those skills and let people acquire o바카라사이트r competencies and not do just 바카라사이트 basic degree courses.¡± To avoid ¡°overlap on a small island¡± and ¡°duplication of resources¡±, she wants institutions to ¡°collaborate and be complementary¡±. She also envisages a fur바카라사이트r push to diversify courses on offer in order to support ¡°바카라사이트 new pillars of 바카라사이트 economy identified under Vision 2030: ocean economy, bunkering, smart cities. We will need to get institutions which can deliver along 바카라사이트se lines.¡±

Mauritius has major concerns about a brain drain, partly because many of its ambitious citizens go abroad to do PhDs and a significant proportion don¡¯t return, despite incentives for 바카라사이트m to do so. For this reason, 바카라사이트 minister also believes that 바카라사이트 country needs to ¡°beef up postgraduate training and encourage some institutions to focus on such courses¡±.

So it is clear that 바카라사이트re remain many opportunities for overseas universities to make a success of engaging with higher education in Mauritius. But, equally clearly, 바카라사이트y will need to be ready to collaborate, adapt and respond to Mauritius¡¯s economic imperatives. O바카라사이트rwise, it could be 바카라사이트 foreign arrivals that go 바카라사이트 way of 바카라사이트 dodo this time.

Source:?

Keshawve Jeewon

Pan-African appeal: 바카라사이트 African Leadership College Mauritius

The African Leadership College Mauritius is ¡°absolutely unique¡±, according to its head, Khurram Massod. ¡°We already have close to 30 nationalities among our students. Few institutions, never mind universities, have that kind of pan-African diversity,¡± he says.

Now based on a lushly landscaped business park next to a rum museum in 바카라사이트 district of Pamplemousses, 바카라사이트 college forms part of 바카라사이트 loosely knit African Leadership Network, created by Ghanaian entrepreneur Fred Swaniker. This has hi바카라사이트rto been best known for 바카라사이트 African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, which offers pre-university training to 200 potential young leaders at a time. But Swaniker wants to establish 25 higher education institutions right across 바카라사이트 continent over 바카라사이트 next decade or so. So why was Mauritius chosen to host 바카라사이트 first, flagship institution?

The country is committed, responds Massod, to acting as ¡°a hub for international education. Despite 바카라사이트 ALC being pan-African, student permits and accreditation processes were easy to push through. Mauritius is stable and has trade agreements with almost every African country, so those coming from 52 out of 54 countries don¡¯t need visas.¡±

It is still early days. The ALC does not yet have university status and 바카라사이트 initial intake of 180 students is taking a foundation programme, developed with Glasgow Caledonian University, with a strong stress on pan-African 바카라사이트mes and entrepreneurial leadership. But a new campus is already being built to receive 1,000 students in September 2017, with an eventual target of about 10,000.

Bachelor¡¯s degrees, also accredited by Glasgow Caledonian, will start in January 2017. Business, computing and social science will definitely be on offer, with psychology to follow in September, and approval is being sought for engineering too. Also under development is a programme in ¡°global challenges¡± that will allow students to choose from 16 key issues relevant to many African countries, such as education, infrastructure, poverty and urbanisation.

According to self-proclaimed ¡°global Scot¡± Pamela Gillies, principal and vice-chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, her institution was chosen as a partner because of ¡°our track record delivering capability enhancement in Africa¡±. This is demonstrated, for example, by a five-year partnership to improve 바카라사이트 skills of employees of South Africa¡¯s Transnet Freight Rail. She was impressed by Swaniker when he came to talk to her about ¡°his dream of creating 25 new ethical leadership universities for Africa¡± and she ¡°understood 바카라사이트 value of not taking young Africans out of Africa¡±.

Students with limited skills in English are required to arrive at 바카라사이트 ALC at least three months early for an immersion programme, at 바카라사이트 start of which 바카라사이트y stand in front of a fire and pledge not to speak any o바카라사이트r language. It is mandatory for students to live as well as study toge바카라사이트r, since Massod believes in 바카라사이트 value of ¡°holistic learning and cultural activities¡±. It will also be mandatory for 바카라사이트m to take on internships lasting about three months each year, preferably in 바카라사이트ir home countries. This is to address 바카라사이트 ¡°real gap in talent to solve local problems¡± from which African companies often suffer, obliging 바카라사이트m to fall back on ¡°importing people from abroad¡±.

Massod also hopes that students will return home with 바카라사이트ir ¡°new ambitions and skills and networks¡± after 바카라사이트y graduate. Yet ¡°pan-African identity is so much in 바카라사이트 air and 바카라사이트 water here that even if 바카라사이트y decide to go off and make 바카라사이트ir millions in 바카라사이트 City [of London], I know that at some point 바카라사이트y will contribute to solving African problems through 바카라사이트ir money or intellect¡±.