Guy Morel Institute becomes autonomous professional centre |17 May 2018

The Guy Morel Institute (TGMI) is no longer part of the University of Seychelles, but has become an autonomous professional centre in its own right under the direction of its board with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development as its parent ministry.

This comes after the signing into law of the Charter for The Guy Morel Institute yesterday afternoon by Minister Jeanne Simeon.

The Charter outlines the mandate of the institute, the powers and functions of both its governing board and management, the rights and responsibilities of its staff and students and the administrative and financial responsibilities that the institute will have to meet.

It is the intention of government that the institute will raise its own revenue for its day to day operations, including paying the salaries of its staff and purchasing material resources needed for its running.

The mandate of the institution to run management, accounting, leadership, entrepreneurial training programmes for the public and private sector will continue as well as its work to build and strengthen the capacity of the public sector.

The institute will also assist in the development of national projects as required.

Following the signing which took place at the ministry’s headquarters, Minister Simeon handed over the document to the Dean of TGMI, Shella Mohideen.

This was in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of the UniSey Justin Valentin, management staff of the UniSey and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.

Minister Simeon said it has been 18 months since the Cabinet of Ministers approved for the TGMI to be demerged from the UniSey to become a separate institution.

“The President himself stated publicly in his press conference in February last year  that it has been a mistake for TGMI to be merged with the UniSey as the vocation of the two institutions are different,” Minister Simeon reminded everyone present.

“For government it is important that TGMI is autonomous and self sufficient. It will operate as a state-owned enterprise. Apart from the seed money approved by government it will have to raise its own money,” Minister Simeon stated.

For her part Dean Mohideen welcomed the decision to demerge the two institutions.

She thanked the management of the UniSey for its cooperation and understanding during the five years four months, 16 days spent with the UniSey.

“The announcement of the merger came as a shock but the staff of the TGMI try our best to make the merger work. We changed our status to faculty and tried our best to function as a faculty, we worked alongside our colleagues at the UniSey to get it accredited…but unfortunately the two entities have separate mandates and this makes it extremely difficult for us to function together. I think it is in the best interest of the UniSey and in the best interest of TGMI that we can function as separate entities with each one of us with our separate vision,” Dean Mohideen stated.

She noted that there have been many good times as well as many challenges adding that it is the latter which make you better, stronger, wiser, more creative, innovative and it is this experience that will be used to take the new TGMI to the next level.