School of Business Management becomes The Guy Morel Institute |11 March 2014

• Shella Mohideen appointed Dean

The School of Business Management of the University of Seychelles (UniSey) is now known as The Guy Morel Institute and Shella Mohideen has been appointed as its Dean.

The official ceremony was done at the school’s premises at Majoie in the presence of UniSey’s vice-chancelor Denis Hardy, UniSey council members, principal secretaries, registrar and other distinguished guests.

It was Professor Hardy and Dean Mohideen who had the honour of unveiling the plaque marking the inauguration of The Guy Morel Institute.

The change in name comes after the chancellor of the UniSey, President James Michel, had proposed it in November last year as a recognition to the late Guy Morel who had played a critical role in the field of finance in Seychelles. Mr Morel was the first Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles and he was responsible for setting up this management institute known then as the Management Training Centre and later on changed into the Seychelles Institute of Management (SIM). It has been in existence since 1978.

Following the country’s Independence in 1976, key positions in accounting and financing in government were occupied by British nationals. After Independence, the British were offered to keep the positions until Seychellois could be trained to fill them, hence the need to train Seychellois in these fields. It was then that Mr Morel came up with the idea of starting the centre.

In her address Dean Mohideen shared her vision of the Institute to the guests present.

“The Guy Morel institute will continue to focus on in-service training and continuous professional development. This type of training is needed to upgrade the knowledge, skills and ability of employees to help them be more productive and creative in their work,” she said.

“Foremost, I will work with my team for The Guy Morel Institute to be known for its quality programmes and supportive student experience. The institute must produce graduates who will make a difference in their workplaces and their lives; and who are empowered to participate fully in social and economic development,” she added.

She also took the opportunity to thank all her colleagues and staff. “This is indeed our Deanship and not my Deanship. It is my strong belief that our Deanship will transform UniSey and together we will take it to greater heights,” Dean Mohideen said.

“When we looked at the structure of the university we acknowledged the work of this campus and therefore designated it as faculty with its own Dean; this will ensure that the Faculty enjoys the full support of the rest of the university and its faculty will be acknowledged,” Professor Hardy said.

“It is also fitting to have its name changed to The Guy Morel Institute as Mr Morel has done a lot to support the Nation. The university has a mission to support the Nation in its transition in the knowledge economy. Through our in-service and our full-time degree courses, we are seeking to develop and spread the necessary skills to achieve this,” Professor Hardy added.