Since its creation in September 1994, the office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (CD & DE) has been responsible for curriculum development, promotion of lifelong learning, strengthening existing and fostering new international relations and quality assurance.

The primary responsibility of the Office is to ensure that the programmes offered at the University of Mauritius are of the highest possible quality: that they meet international professional and academic standards, and that graduates of the University’s programmes are accepted anywhere in the world – as employees in the workplace or as students in graduate programmes.

The main objective of this office is to formulate new policy and to take initiatives in response to national, regional, and international developments in teaching and learning especially in respect of e-learning initiatives. Important factors include academic guidance, enhancement of teaching, learning and professional development of the staff of the University.

The key aim of our quality strategy is to have effective means of ensuring that high quality and standards are set and maintained, and to improve thereupon continuously. Essential factors are the high quality and commitment of our academic and support staff and of our students.

FROM CD & DE TO TEACHING & LEARNING

With the increasing use of blended and on-line learning, the growing responsibility of the University in the field of Teaching and Learning with greater emphasis on quality and academic practice reflecting the multifaceted and complex role of the academia, and with the new strategic orientations of the University, in the light of world-wide challenges in the tertiary landscape, the Council of the University on the recommendation of the Senate approved the restyling of the CD & DE Office into the ‘Teaching and Learning Office’.

The Teaching and Learning Committee chaired by Prof B A F Gurib-Fakim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor is the main reference point as regards best practices in pedagogy and androgogy, ensuring that curricula are based on models of learning relevant to their (curricular) objectives, and encouraging meta-learning to take place.

The Centre for Distance Learning (CDL) has been reorganised into the Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (CPDL) owing to the changing and challenging environment pertaining to the tertiary education sector. The terms of reference of the CPDL have been broadened to include, among others, professional training of staff, promotion of best practices in training, identification of community training needs, etc.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

International Affairs Unit

The role of the International Office is to internationalise the University of Mauritius by developing further regional/ international activities, increasing overseas students enrolment, encouraging exchange of students with overseas Universities for short periods and by promoting joint degree programmes with overseas universities.

The International Office has so far promoted student exchanges through programmes such as “CUSAC - Commonwealth Universities Study Abroad Consortium”, “CIME – Cursus Intégré pour la Mobilité des Etudiants (AUF)”, “UMIOR – University Mobility in the Indian Ocean” and “Interstudy – Students from USA.”

The International Office also provides administrative support to international students.

TRANSFERABLE OUTREACH SKILLS PROGRAMMES (TOSPs)

Transferable skills are valued highly by employers since they are among the qualities and attributes treasured by an educational tradition, which endeavours to provide a broadening of horizons, preparing graduates for a critical and responsible appreciation of the world.

TOSPs empower our graduates to use and effectively apply the specific knowledge they develop through higher education. Transferable skills enable them to perform different work or professional roles from those for which they have been educated.

Introduced in the academic year 1999/2000, the Transferable Outreach Skills Programme (TOSPs) continues to serve its purpose in equipping our graduates with a wide variety of skills, meant specifically to enhance their employability in a constantly changing world of work as well as provide them with opportunities to help in their personal development and social interaction.

WINTER/SUMMER COURSES

Again, with a view to enhancing the employment prospects of our graduates and to give them a competitive edge over other graduates, the University decided to offer Winter Courses in July and Summer Courses in December. These courses are fee-paying, short “course-units” of one-credit value, of 15 hours duration offered during the winter vacation period.

However, what started as a project targeted to our ongoing degree students, gained such popularity that the University decided to open it up to the public. Thus two categories of courses were advertised: one for holders of the Higher School Certificate and the other for graduates and ongoing degree students.

ENGLAND-AFRICA PARTNERSHIPS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Work-Based Learning
International concerns about graduates’ fitness for purpose and employability have increasingly mandated Higher Education Institutions to examine and enhance the quality of their Work Based Learning provision. University of Mauritius has varying experiences in this field of activity. Trade liberation, globalisation and competitive market forces continue to challenge the Mauritian economy. The Mauritian ambition to succeed in the market world and to become a regional hub, including a sea-food hub, is predicated upon there being an infrastructure and human resource equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge.

The UoM responded to the Mauritius Tertiary Education Commission Report (December 2004) by conducting its own survey of employers to establish University of Mauritius graduates’ fitness for employment. Whilst the survey revealed some positive aspect in respect of UoM graduates fitness for employablility, it is deemed necessary that this becomes the experience of all graduates leaving at the University.

In order to achieve this, the UoM in partnership with be University of Bradford made an application to the British Council under the England-Africa Partnership project to get some funding to embed Work Based Learning in all undergraduate programmes.

The University of Bradford and the University of Mauritius were successful in this bid and a total funding in the sum of £90,349/- has been granted on the basis of a robust proposal.

Proposed Outcome

1. The University of Mauritius will have a robust infrastructure for embedding and supporting Work-Based Learning in its undergraduate programmes.
2. Graduates will develop employability skills thereby enhancing their fitness for the world of work and employment prospects.
3. Prospective employers will make economic savings on remedial in-service training for new graduates entering employment.
4. Graduates productivity at work will be enhanced.

Project Output

1. A basic toolkit of guidelines and policies on Work-Based Learning
2. Three validated credit bearing modules on work-based/simulated learning around vocational employment.
3. A developmental platform for further work with industries, public and private sector organisations.
4. Future Work-Based Learning opportunities and a first emerging Directory of Placement Learning opportunities in Mauritius

An inaugural meeting of the Project Board took place on Thursday 25 January, when its terms of reference and the Project Activity Plan were approved.