Shannon graduates invited to voice concerns, give views on pertinent matters |20 December 2017

The meeting between the Mentors Committee and the graduates

Seychellois graduates from Shannon College in Ireland who are currently working and holding managerial positions in various hotels across the country have had the chance to voice their concerns, give their views and seek clarifications on matters relating to their work.  

They did so through discussions with members of the Mentors Committee of the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) held at the academy at La Misère.

This is the committee’s second meeting which is aimed at providing support to

the graduates by mentoring and ensuring their welfare in their respective organisations.

As panellists on the committee are chairperson Anne Lafortune (principal secretary for tourism), Jules Baker (principal secretary for employment), Flavien Joubert (principal of STA) and a representative from the Agency of National Human Resource Development (ANHRD).

Human resource managers and general managers of hotels where these graduates are working also form part of the committee. They meet every two months.

The recent meeting was graced by the presence of Myriam Telemaque, Minister for Employment, Immigration and Civil Status.

Mrs Lafortune went through the minutes of the previous meeting where she said many issues were covered like updating the graduates’ list on where they are employed; whenever they shift jobs or work places; progress reports, reviews so they reflect their performances in the industry; training and succession plan; career path; training needs in order to move to the next level; request to general managers to submit a succession plan; bonded agreement and a survey for students not in employment.

Mrs Lafortune said as from next year the committee will extend its survey to their areas in related fields.

“What we need to do now is to focus more on the graduates. We can only assist and mentor you if you come forward and talk about it. We want to make sure you get the best out of your training or work,” said Mrs Lafortune.

Even if the graduates were quite silent and were not talking much, certain issues that came out included lack of feedback from managers while one wanted a change of career path but nonetheless remaining in the hotel industry.

“I want to move to finance instead of in operations,” said one of them.

The graduates were later on treated to a dance and dinner at the STA.