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At a signing ceremony last week at the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort, it also received several donations to help renovate its restaurant.

Present were Seychelles Tourism Board chairman Maurice Loustau-Lalanne and the general managers and representatives of the donating companies, as well as other STB and STA staff.

During the ceremony, the STA also renewed a two-year agreement with the Mauritius-based Constance Group, which covers training and other types of support for the academy and has seen around 20 of its staff being trained over the past two years at the Constance Academy.

The Constance Group owns the Lemuria Resort on Praslin and the Ephilia hotel now being built at Port Launay.

Owner Claude Narrain and STA chairman Roman Kopacek signed the contracts, after which Mr Narrain announced that his academy will sponsor two Seychellois to follow a two-year master’s degree course with all costs included.

Mr Narrain and Mr Kopacek then signed an agreement that will offer posts at the Ephilia to 300 Seychellois. STA graduates and voluntary departure takers who have attended the academy’s three-month courses will be eligible to apply.

STA principal Flavien Joubert said Ephilia management staff, including its human resources officer, were to move on to the academy campus on Monday this week, and recruitment exercises will be held from there from December this year.

Those selected will follow pre-opening or further training at the Constance Academy before they take up their jobs.

The STA also received donations from various companies towards the renovation of its La Gaulette restaurant.

The Southern Sun management of the Praslin-based Paradise Sun and Mahe-based Maia Luxury Resort and Spa gave a cheque for R10,000, presented by Salvatore Puma.

Olivier Français of the Le Mériden Fisherman’s Cove donated R15,000, Vinesh Gupta from Labriz Silhouette gave R15,000 and Eden Island Development Company representative Rodrica Monthy donated R20,000.

The Hilton Northolme also made its presence count, donating a set of over 20 computers including desktop and laptop computers as well as printers.

Mr Joubert said the computers, which are less than a year old, are worth over R60,000. The desktops will be used in a newly-built computer lab at the academy, while the laptops will be used by lecturers for presentations in classes.