VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH), under the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, and jointly administered by the Ministry of Education, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Quest International University, with the objective of creating pathways for students to pursue further studies after completing their courses. The MoU was signed by Minister Flavien Joubert and representatives of Global Integrated Training Associates (GITA).
SIAH Director Maryanne Marie explained that the agreement aligns with the institute’s objectives and that the pathways are already showing results. There are currently two SIAH students following a diploma programme at the institution who are also taking a course with the Malaysian university, with one of them already in their second year in Malaysia and doing the course on-site. A third student, who was the best student for the Higher School Certificate Agriculture, has been accepted into a Malaysian infrastructure programme and is studying online.
The agreement is expected to strengthen Seychelles’ agricultural education by giving SIAH graduates a clear route into further studies abroad, while also exposing them to international best practice. The MoU is also intended to encourage more young Seychellois to take up agriculture as a career and to ensure that the local sector continues to benefit from new skills and techniques. Officials say the partnership will be reviewed regularly, with the first cohort of students expected to graduate under the new arrangement in the coming academic year.
