UniSey refutes claims of fake medical degrees |21 October 2015

The University of Seychelles (UniSey) has refuted allegations that it has awarded ‘fake’ medical degrees.

In a communiqué released yesterday, the UniSey writes: “It has been brought to our notice that a medical council in India is investigating ‘fake’ degrees awarded by the ‘University of Seychelles’. At no time has the present University of Seychelles awarded medical degrees of any kind. The reference to our university is wholly misplaced.”

It is believed that the allegations relate, instead, to an institution known as the University of Seychelles American Institute of Medicine, (USAIM), an overseas company that operated in Seychelles from 2000 to 2010. Although its licence to operate in this country was originally authorised by the government through a Charter granted on June 22, 2000, it was requested by the Seychelles attorney general to cease operations after a period of one year from January 14, 2010. USAIM ceased operation in Seychelles at the end of December 2010.

Since then the company has continued to use the name ‘University of Seychelles’, claiming that the original title is still valid. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the aim of preventing this continuing use.

“The present University of Seychelles (known widely as UniSey) bears no relationship to this other body, and the practices that are in question are totally at odds with our own values. We value the integrity of our reputation above all else, and we assure our students and other stakeholders that we will continue to pursue this misleading and injurious use of our name through the courts until the injustice is corrected,” says the UniSey communiqué.