The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of Dr Bernard Valentin as Chairperson of the University of Seychelles Council, effective 24th March 2026, for a period of three (3) years.
Dr Valentin brings to this role a distinguished record of public health leadership and national service. He currently serves as Special Advisor to the Minister for Health and has over a decade of experience as Principal Secretary for Health, having held the position across two terms from 2011 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2025. During his tenure, he provided executive oversight to the National Institute of Health and Social Studies, contributing significantly to the strengthening of academic programmes and institutional development.
His leadership experience spans multiple national bodies. Dr Valentin is currently Chairperson of the Seychelles Medical and Dental Council and also chairs the non-governmental organisation Patient Solidarity. Since 2018, he has served as a member of the Seychelles Qualifications Authority and previously sat on the University of Seychelles Council between 2016 and 2018. At the international level, he represented Seychelles on the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation for three years, reflecting his engagement in global health governance.
Dr Valentin holds a medical degree from the University of Athens and a Master of Arts in Health Services Management with distinction from the University of Manchester. He also holds a combined diploma in Epidemiology, Statistics and Management from the University of Nairobi, as well as a Diploma in Addiction Studies from the University of Reunion.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr Valentin has contributed to academic research, including coordinating the Seychelles component of an international study in collaboration with Lund University and the University of Rochester on the long-term public health effects of heavy metals on specific population groups. He has also co-authored a peer-reviewed article in the field of public health.
Beyond his medical and policy career, Dr Valentin is an accomplished literary figure and a two-time laureate of the Antoine Abel Prize, Seychelles’ highest literary honour. Fluent in English, French, Greek, and Creole, he brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, administrative leadership, and cultural depth to the role.
The Government welcomes Dr Valentin’s appointment and is confident that his extensive experience and leadership will contribute to the continued growth and strengthening of the University of Seychelles as a centre of academic excellence.
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The University of Seychelles (UniSey) celebrated its 16th anniversary on Wednesday with its 10th annual lecture, held at the institution’s auditorium in Anse Royale under the theme ‘Positioning UniSey as the Research and Innovation Driver in the Socio-Economic Transformation of Seychelles – Zooming on Education’.
Vice-Chancellor Joelle Perreau said the university was proud to celebrate 16 years of progress, describing UniSey as still “a teenager” but one that has already achieved much of its mission. She noted that this year’s anniversary lecture was especially meaningful because the keynote was delivered by Education Minister Justin Valentin, who had introduced the concept of the annual lecture.
In his keynote, Minister Valentin said the Ministry of Education is preparing a major curriculum reform under the Project for Enhancing Teaching and Learning Experiences (PETALE). The new framework will create distinct lower, middle and upper secondary levels, offering more tailored academic, technical and vocational pathways. ‘This will give our students the best possible deal,’ he said, calling the reform a major national undertaking that requires collective and multi-sectoral participation.
Dr Justin Zelime, Dean of Research and Innovation, spoke about UniSey’s role in bridging policy and practice, particularly in education, highlighting the university’s contribution to literacy, numeracy, teacher training and inclusive education. Alumna Liza Arnephy also shared her personal journey from student to teacher, recalling her Bachelor of Education studies and a student exchange in Mauritius that broadened her perspective.
