The Seychelles Tourism Academy is now a recognized academy of Shannon College supported by the National University of Ireland.
For the four years now, the Seychelles Tourism Academy has operated in exemption of the criteria to run the hotel management course on the basis that after this period it fulfils all the requirements of the Shannon College and the National University of Ireland.
During those years, the Seychelles Tourism Academy gained help from Shannon College, the National University of Ireland and the Seychelles Qualifications Authority.
The academy was then assessed by a team from Shannon College sent by the National University of Ireland. The results showed that the Seychelles Tourism Academy now meets the criteria to be a part of Shannon College.
The course which was exempted was a Seychelles course leading to Shannon Bachelor’s degree but now it is a Seychelles-Shannon College course supported by the National University of Ireland.
A collaborative agreement was signed yesterday morning at the offices of the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange.
Signing the agreement were the principal of the academy Flavien Joubert and the registrar of Shannon College Kate O’Connell in the presence of the Dean of the Emirates Training Academy, Dr Stuart Jauncey and the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board Sherin Naiken.
“Now that the Seychelles Tourism Academy is an internationally recognized academy supported by Shannon College and the National University of Ireland, it is vital for the Seychelles’ authorities to take this new venture positively and support this so that the academy can sustain the quality required by these international institutions to ensure that there is continuity,” said Mr. Joubert.
With this new development the Shannon College has placed a fulltime coordinator in Seychelles and appointed Dr. Stuart Jauncey, of the Emirates Training Academy as the external examiner for the next four years.
Students completing the bachelor’s degree can now go to the National University of Ireland to do their master’s degree.
Three cohorts of 40 graduates have already completed this course and five more will be doing so in the near future.
Speaking before the signing, Minister Alain St.Ange said it is important to give the Seychelles Tourism Academy support so that the young people of this country can find a place in the tourism world.
“Our attention is on quality as we want to train young people with a vision and mission to better our tourism industry,” he said.
Minister St.Ange also stressed that there is a need to continue to have a close follow-up of the returning graduates to be closely upon the completion of their studies.
Mrs. O’Connell said this signing is a key process and represents a historic occasion for both parties.
She added that upon arriving at the Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort and Spa, she was pleased to see two past Seychellois students who were following apprenticeship courses at the Seychelles Tourism Academy, who then applied for Shannon College.
“We are giving you wings to fly. You need to fly them when you get back to Seychelles. These are the words I echo to the Seychellois students at Shannon College,” she said.
She also added that there is a need to keep track of the graduates when they return to the country.
