Vice-Chancellor Romeela Mohee: “At the University of Mauritius it’s quality over quantity”

Vice-Chancellor Roomeela Mohee: “At the University of Mauritius it’s quality over quantity”. 2,994 new tertiary students have just embarked on the academic year 2016/2017 at the University of Mauritius. With 21 new programmes offered at Undergraduate level and 16 new programmess offered at Postgraduate level, the university guarantees programmes aligned with the job market demands. Vice Chancellor Roomeela Mohee shares with News on Sunday the objectives of the University. 

What are your objectives for this new academic year?

The new academic year 2016/2017 started on Monday 08 August 2016.  Our Objectives at UoM are Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Excellence in Research and Innovation, Enriching Student Experience, Strategic Partnership for Internationalisation, Sustainable Community Engagement, and Long Lasting Financial Sustainability.

Tell us about the actual student enrolment rate for year 2016/2017. Are you satisfied with the rate?

For the academic year 2016/2017, 2,994 new students have registered on 126 programmes (103 at undergraduate and 23 at postgraduate level). Following the re-advertisement of programmes in June/July 2016, we expect more students to register on our programmes. 

If not, what strategies do you plan to put in place to encourage students to enrol at the University of Mauritius?

With the present infrastructure, the UoM has reached its maximum capacity.  Our emphasis is on delivering quality programmes.

Tell us about the new courses offered this new academic year?

For academic year 2016/2017, 21 new programmes were introduced at undergraduate level in the fields of agriscience and telecommunications, geomatics, music and nursing studies. 16 new programmes (LLM amongst others) were offered at postgraduate level. 

Nowadays emphasis is on employability. How is the University of Mauritius ensuring that the programs it runs are aligned with the job market demands?

The University mounts new programmes of studies every year. Existing programmes are also constantly being revised/updated to be aligned with job market demands. UoM convenes Advisory Committees composed of representatives with special interests in the subject of concern from both private and public sector whilst approving our programmes.  Moreover, External Examiners are appointed on all our programmes to ensure the level is as per International Standards.

The 3rd edition of Employability Forum was organised by the University in June 2016 whereby professionals in different fields were invited to address our students and recent graduates on employability skills and other competencies required in the world of work. 

The student admission rate has significantly decreased over the years. What is the reason behind this? How do you plan to reverse the trend?

The University of Mauritius privileges quality over quantity and only the best candidates join the institution solely on the basis of merit. 

Courses fees have increased and many are complaining. Why the decision to increase fees? How about students who have a restrained budget?

On the contrary, fees have not increased for the past three years. To assist students with a restrained budget, there are sponsorships or scholarships schemes available. Moreover, the University has the Needy Students Fund which provides financial assistance.

Tertiary Education: Drop in admissions in public universities

The four public universities of the island are experiencing great difficulty in attracting students for the new academic year. The University of Mauritius (UOM) and the University of Technology are mostly concerned.

3,204 new admissions have been recorded at the UOM this year. However, in comparison with numbers published last year in the report of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), there is a drop in the number of admissions for 2016/2017. The document ‘Participation in Tertiary Education in 2014’ revealed that the campus at Reduit had welcomed 4,673 new students in 2014. The UOM has thus received 1,469 less admissions this year. 

According to a source in the higher education sector, the University of Mauritius had to redouble its efforts to attract more students this year. A member of the UOM Board revealed that the institution hopes to attract some more students over the coming weeks. “We expect to reach the threshold of 3,300 students,” he said. 

The number of applications for admission at the University of Technology has also declined. While it had registered 1,147 applications last year, the institution has enrolled only 550 students for this new academic year. On its part, the Open University of Mauritius (OUM), which had since the beginning of its opening shown encouraging signs in terms of its admissions, has also seen a declining trend. According to Kaviraj Sukon, CEO of OUM, the institution has admitted 1,100 new students in 2016. However in 2014, the university campus based in Curepipe welcomed 1,261 students.

The CEO trusts that there is a general decline in admissions in public universities. “This could be explained by the fact that there are fewer young people who complete their secondary education, or so because of the economic situation of students,” stated Kaviraj Sukon. 

The trend is also downwards at the University des Mascareignes (UDM). This tertiary institution based at Camp Levieux, Rose Hill admitted 198 students, against 272 in 2014. According to the director Radhakrishna Somanah, the confusion that prevailed regarding the agreement between the UDM and the French University of Limoges is at the root of the decline. However, he underlined that everything is back to normal and Limoges maintains its partnership with the UDM.