Get a degree in environmental science at the UniSey |04 August 2018
Candidates are invited to join the BSc Environmental Science course being offered by the University of Seychelles.
Individuals who have completed education in various professional centres/post-secondary as well as applicants who are in the world of work can apply. “Although you are in employment, you can always apply and do the course on a part-time basis,” explains Rachel Onezime, head of Department of Environment at the UniSey.
The deadline for this year’s application is on August 17, 2018. Application forms can be accessed online at www.unisey.ac.sc or can be collected/requested from UniSey’s registration office and must be completed and returned before August 17, 2018. Interested individuals can also send an email for enquiries or for clarification to rachel.onezime@unisey.ac.sc or environment.science@unisey.ac.sc
The Bachelor in Environmental Science (Honors) degree is a three-year course offered by the UniSey and has been on offer for the past five years.
The course can be done on a full-time or part-time basis depending on the specific applicant.
In total it consists of 24 well rounded and relevant courses ranging from a focus on ‘Sustainable Development’, ‘Natural Resource Development and Protection’, ‘Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation’, as well as ‘Tropical Biodiversity Conservation’, ‘Aquaculture and Fisheries’, ‘Environmental Law & Multilateral Environmental Agreements’, ‘Governance and Stakeholder Engagement’, among others. In their third and final year students are expected to conduct a research project on any topic that they are passionate about which will eventually be their dissertation.
The degree programme itself empowers students with various skills including research skills, report writing skills and the various skills needed when carrying out practical field work.
This programme also equips students with skills that are required in every day personal and professional life such as communication, creativity and innovation, problem solving and writing, thus enabling the students to become more confident in everyday undertakings.
A variety of teaching methods and strategies are used to deliver the programme. These include both indoor and outdoor sessions such as snorkelling, marine and coastal surveys, educational visits, field work and internships on other islands.
“As the Seychelles environment is already a unique and natural laboratory, a good percentage of the programme is taught outdoors in that natural laboratory,” says Ms Onezime.
“We have an international and competent team of full-time and part-time lecturers, including environmental scientists and researchers who teach on the programme, thus passing on their knowledge and expertise to our students. All our previous cohorts are already in employment….and this year over fifteen students have completed the programme and will graduate in November 2018,” Ms Onezime adds.
“Many organisations have contacted us regarding employment for environmental science students… so there are opportunities, so many opportunities, for instance we have past students who are currently working at theSeychelles Fishing Authority, Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation, Ministry of Environment, Seychelles Islands Foundation, in hotels and even teaching in primary and secondary schools,” she says.
After following the Bachelor’s degree programme, students also have the option of pursuing further studies.
Currently there are past students who have completed their Master’s degree with universities in Europe, such as the University of Zurich, Switzerland and University of Alicante, Spain. There is also one student who is now doing her PHD.
Since 2013, 26 students have successfully graduated from the course including one international student from Germany, who is now pursuing further studies.