‘Key trainer’ SIM expands and offers more courses |12 March 2012

To cater for its grown role and clientele, the SIM has built a new classroom block which on Friday proved large enough to host its 2011 graduation ceremony that would otherwise have been staged outdoors under tents as in the past.

SIM’s chief executive Audrey Nanon talked about the role and expansion on Friday when she addressed graduates, board members and guests, who included Vice-President Danny Faure and the Minister for Education, Employment and Human Resources Macsuzy Mondon, as 115 former students got their certificates.

Nearly 90% of the graduates – from 28 courses – scored at least a credit.

“The overall performance of this graduating cohort has given immense satisfaction to the institute.

“Over 81 % of the graduates who followed the SIM local courses have graduated with at least Credit and 8% of them got distinctions,” she said, naming the Unesco-sponsored Certificate in Journalism and the Diploma in Human Resource Management programmes as the newly launched courses.

“Producing graduates with competencies in human resource is timely as the country is in high need of professionals with such abilities. It is also worth mentioning that the SIM is graduating one of its highest percentage of learners for Diploma in Management,” she said.

“2011 has been a momentous year for SIM.  There was a strong focus on customers – we termed it the SIM experience. This has been manifested throughout the institute in a manner that ensures the full involvement of our stakeholders in ways that resulted in the development and delivery of customised products such as Diploma in District Administration.

“This course will surely empower the DAs and aspiring DAs to manage our districts more strategically and hence ensure quality services to the people,” she said, adding the SIM has also developed and delivered introductory and other courses in public procurement.

On the SIM’s role as “the key provider of professional training services for the public and private sectors in the new Seychelles”, she said emerging challenges of development and capacity building in public service will require it to play a more visible and wider role in the public sector reforms, and at the same time build capacity within the private sector “which is now the driver of the Seychelles’ economy”.

She said the new classroom block – used for the first time for the Friday ceremony – became available just when the demand for professional training is high and additional space is needed.

“It will also allow us to offer diverse products for our clients in a modern and comfortable environment,” she said, thanking Mr Faure for his continued support that enabled the SIM expand and excel in 2011.

“Your keen interest in the development and expansion of the institute is to be commended,” she told him.

She commended the graduates for their effort and urged them to use the new knowledge and skills they got to add value to their organisations.

“It is not enough to simply acquire new skills. There needs to be an impact that is felt in your workplace. “You should make a difference in everything you do,” she said, thanking her staff “who worked hard to facilitate the training and support the graduates, and “for working tirelessly to put together the graduation ceremony”.

She also commended the sponsors “who have graciously agreed to contribute towards rewarding the graduates for their hard work”.