UniSey hosts annual exit seminar |26 August 2021

A group of around 20 students who completed their respective study programmes with the University of Seychelles (UniSey) earlier this year, yesterday attended the annual exit seminar at the institution.

The event, which is organised for exiting cohorts, seeks for the students’ insight on their study experiences, as well as how they have progressed since completing their studies, with the aim of extending support to those who need it, in finding jobs, or moving onto higher studies.

Yesterday’s seminar had been organised for two cohorts, namely, the ones who successfully completed in 2020, in addition to the newly finished cohort. However, only the few were able to make it.

Registrar of UniSey, Indra Persaud, commended the students for having seen their courses through, in the face of the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw classes and examinations migrating online, instead of the traditional modes of learning.

On the upside however, Dr Persaud reminded them that the experience may actually be beneficial to those wishing to move on to Masters degree programmes, on account that the trend is to offer such programmes on a distance-learning basis.

Dr Persaud further notified the students that they are to graduate in a virtual graduation ceremony, to be held early in December this year, although the date is yet to be confirmed.

For the rest of the seminar, the students heard from alumni Juliette Dine, as well as officials from the Agency for Human Resource Development (ANHRD) and Ministry of Employment, who addressed their concerns, and laid out the different services offered within their capacities to assist and support the students further.

President of the Student Council, Nassirah Dorby, said the seminar was organised this year for both cohorts for the exchange and as a follow-up, considering the decline in the domestic economy and subsequent changes in the labour market.

“We want them to also be aware that we haven’t abandoned them just because they have completed their studies. We are ensuring that we still have the tie with them, we are following-up on them and whether they require help, or need support to get in touch with other organisations. With the agencies that are in attendance, they are brought up to speed with the processes and how to make themselves competitive and such,” Ms Dorby noted.

UniSey and partner organisations such as the ANHRD and the employment department work in close collaboration to assist students during their courses, and help graduates make the transition into the world of employment.

Annicka Julie is one of those students who sat her final exams just over a month ago, and completed her programme in business administration, who attended yesterday’s seminar.

“For the moment I just started working, actually last Monday. I had to take a half-day off to attend the half-day seminar, where I expected to talk about graduation, our next steps, opportunities that they have to offer to us who have recently completed our studies, since many of us are not accessing employment, especially now with Covid-19,” she said.

“A lot of employers are basically saying that they have no space for finishing graduates or we lack the experience to join them, and this is challenging. There is also the fact that now many more people with experience are also seeking employment, which makes it more difficult as finishing graduates. For those who do not have jobs, I’m sure they will seize the opportunity to ask questions and seek out support from ANHRD and employment,” Ms Julie noted.

The students are to graduate after earning their degrees in different disciplines offered by UniSey and partner organisations such as the University of London, including Business Administration, Computer Information System, Social Work and Environmental Science degree.

Laura Pillay