Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Mauritius Signed

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The School of Management, Information and Governance - under the leadership of its Dean and Head, Professor Stephen Mutula - co-ordinated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Mauritius (UoM).

The MoU was signed on Tuesday, 6 September 2022 at a formal ceremony. Founded in 1965, UoM - which is regarded as the premier university on the island - has seven faculties, namely the Faculty of Agriculture (FoA), Faculty of Engineering (FoE), Faculty of Law and Management (FLM), Faculty of Information Communication and Digital Technologies (FoICDT), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Faculty of Science (FoS), and Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH).

Since its creation, the university has produced around 60 000 graduates and has, from 2017, embarked on a modernisation strategy, positioning itself as a research-engaged and entrepreneurial institution. The new vision, centered on innovation, empowers the UoM to play an active role in building the human, intellectual, business and social capital of the country.

To achieve this vision, the university is not only actively developing the tripartite relationship (UoM, public and private sectors), but is also engaging closely with the community for the economic and social progress of the country. Since August 2019, the UoM has adopted the Learner Centered Credit System (LCCS) in line with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which will further enhance independent learning and promote outcome-based programmes. The UoM is collaborating with overseas institutions, namely the University of Arizona, USA; CY Cergy Paris Université, France; and the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Canada, to offer dual degree programs. The university has obtained accreditation for six programmes offered by its Faculty of Engineering by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

It has also obtained accreditation for its BSc (Hons) Chemistry programme by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Moreover, the University runs flagship programmes of study in Medicine in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux, France, and University of Geneva, Switzerland. The UoM also places emphasis on doctoral programmes and works closely with the business community, especially the community at large.

Internationalisation is key to the new vision of the UoM. The university promotes international education diplomacy and deeper engagement with key countries and external partners. The first joint project planned for this collaboration is the hosting of a joint Doctoral Colloquium in Mauritius (planned for 2023) - providing a platform for UKZN and UoM students to share their research and engage with fellow international PhD students and supervisors.

SMIG has already collaborated with the UoM delivering three guest webinars for their doctoral students - by Professor Fayth Ruffin, Professor Manoj Maharaj and Dr Upasana Singh.

Dr Upasana Singh, academic co-ordinator for the MoU at UKZN welcomes interest from colleagues in the form of proposals for collaboration with the UoM.

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied