UniSey launches public finance management course |16 April 2013

The course was officially launched yesterday afternoon by the Minister for Finance, Trade and Investment Pierre Laporte, in the presence of UniSey’s pro-chancellor Professor Rolph Payet, high officials from Mr Laporte’s ministry and the government, senior management of the university, and the first group of students of the programme.

The diploma course targets accounts personnel in ministries, departments and budget-dependent entities, and is made up of 10 modules – introduction to public finance; sources of public finance; public finance monitoring and control; public finance regulations; procurement; audit; assets, liabilities and public investment management; budgeting; strategic and performance management; and professional ethics.

Addressing the guests at the launch ceremony yesterday at the School of Business Management’s premises at Ma Joie, Minister Laporte said public financial management has been significantly strengthened in recent years.

“The government will continue to find ways to modernise our public finance management to ensure that we have international best practices in place, but specific to the Seychelles context,” he said.
“We must take note that as public servants we are here to serve the Seychellois people. Thus we must ensure that we have the required skills that will enable us to discharge these responsibilities.”

He also asked the students to raise areas of concern with regard to government finances, auditing, procurement and others to his ministry, and said that they will continue to work closely with the School of Business Management to ensure that the diploma is internationally accredited to a university so that those who take up the course can follow a post-graduate diploma or even a master’s degree later on in public finance management.

Head of school Shella Mohideen said the course aims to give the students knowledge on how to better manage the resources of their organisations with a focus on not only results, but also on outcomes.

“Finance officers will no longer be just concerned with spending the funds allocated to the organisation, but more importantly working on cost-efficiency, with an eye on meeting the obligations to the general public and the stakeholders. The modules of the diploma have been developed to help the students understand the importance of aligning organisational priority programmes and the budget,” she said.

During the course, the students will get assignments, sit for exams and will be required to submit a dissertation. A total of 200 officers of the financial operations cadre have pledged to take up studies in public finance management.

There was also a powerpoint presentation by the controller-general of the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment Patrick Payet, where the course content, expected outcomes, and future plans of the course was presented to all present.