SIT recognised again as TVET centre in Seychelles |01 September 2016
The International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco-Unevoc) has awarded the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) with the Unevoc plaque recognising the institution as the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre in Seychelles.
This is the second time SIT is awarded the plaque which was handed by the Unesco secretary general in Seychelles, Dr Marie Reine Hoareau, to Hubert Barbe, director of SIT, during a short ceremony at that institution.
Also present were Linda Barallon, principal secretary for tertiary education, policy planning and administration in the Ministry of Education and other senior officials from that ministry, members of the governing board of SIT, invited guests, management, staff and students of SIT.
SIT was last awarded a plaque of recognition as a TVET Centre in 2007.
Unevoc is the United Nation’s organ responsible for promoting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) globally. It recognises training institutions engaged in TVET programmes and skills development which lead to employment and entrepreneurship.
As SIT has the basic infrastructure and committed human resources to fulfill its role as a Unevoc Centre, Jean Alcindor, coordinator of the Unevoc Centre, said last year the institution took the initiative to reapply for such a recognition and was accepted in June this year.
“The current Unevoc membership cycle is from 2016 to 2019, covering two biennial work plans for 2016/17 and 2018/19. SIT should be congratulated for having submitted its biennial work plan for 2016/17and for gaining such an important international recognition,” said Mr Alcindor.
He highlighted the benefits and privileges SIT will gain from joining the Unevoc network. It will be a platform and will also provide assistance for SIT and other members to take part in various activities like global debate on TVET; have access to worldwide TVET information and know-how, learning from each other’s experiences; expanding institutional and professional networks; facilitating regional and international partnerships in TVET; learning about potential funding opportunities, among others.
He added SIT is working in close collaboration with its key partners and stakeholders to be able to have the capacity to fulfill the role of a Unesco-Unevoc centre.
To become a Unesco-Unevoc Centre, the director of SIT said the institution had to undergo an application as the first recognition was in 2007. And in the application they had to show Unesco planned projects for SIT for the years to come.
He also noted they will have the plaque enlarged and placed at the entrance of the training institution for everyone to see.