VICTORIA, Seychelles — Auto Panel, a private auto body repair workshop located in Providence, is set to revolutionise the learning experience of Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) students by providing access to cutting-edge technology. SIT lecturers will also be able to immerse themselves in up-to-date industrial practices, thereby enhancing the quality of education. The arrangement marks the first time a private local workshop of this kind has been formally tied into the curriculum of a national training institution.
This was made possible through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the SIT and Clinton Leon of Auto Panel, which took place on Monday at the Ministry of Education, Mont Fleuri. The MoU is intended to give students structured exposure to the equipment, tools and techniques used in a working commercial workshop, rather than the simulated environment of a teaching lab. The arrangement also allows SIT to update its training materials in step with what is happening in the industry.
Under the arrangement, SIT students will spend blocks of time at Auto Panel as part of their coursework, working alongside the workshop’s technicians on real vehicles. The lecturers, in turn, will be able to bring industry case studies directly into the classroom. The model is similar to apprenticeship programmes run in other countries, where training institutions partner with a single high-quality workshop rather than a chain of providers.
Mr Leon said he was keen to support the next generation of Seychellois auto body technicians, and to give them the same standard of training they would receive overseas. The auto body repair trade has changed significantly in the past decade with the introduction of electric vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems and new composite materials, and local workshops have had to invest in training and equipment to keep up. The MoU is expected to give SIT students a head start on those changes before they enter the workforce.
Speaking after the signing, Principal Secretary for Education Sector Development John Lesperance described the partnership as a template for future collaboration between public training institutions and private operators. He noted that several other private sector firms had expressed interest in similar arrangements, and that the Ministry of Education was open to considering more such MoUs in the coming months. The first cohort of SIT students to use the Auto Panel facility is expected to begin their placements in the second quarter of 2024.
