Open University of Mauritius to collaborate with Unisa

The Open University of Mauritius was established on 12 July 2012.

In the last 140 years, Unisa has not just shaped futures and contributed to Africa’s development but has also played a fundamental role of support to institutions that need it. This was underscored when, on 24 April 2013, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with the Open University of Mauritius (OU), with various levels of support and collaborations offered.

A new university, OU was established on 12 July 2012 and offers flexible study options whereby its learners can study from home, work, or anywhere in the world, at a time that suits them and their lifestyle. A mirror image of Unisa’s education implementation, it makes sense that OU is now looking at this university for guidance.

Access to Unisa’s study material is one aspect of the agreement, where OU will be allowed to copy, adapt and utilise it under accepted terms. As Unisa owns the copyright, title, trademarks and all other related rights in and to the materials, OU, should they wish, will have to acquire a licence in respect of copyright.

Some of the study material shared with OU includes the following qualifications: Master of Arts in Linguistics Translation Studies, Master of Education in Education Management, Master of Philosophy in Accounting Sciences Taxation, Postgraduate Diploma/Masters of Education in Higher Education, Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management and Bachelor of Arts in Police Science.

Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon (Director-General: OU) accepts a CD of Unisa’s study material from Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor). One of the key terms of the MoU is that OU will be allowed to copy, adapt and utilise study material under accepted terms.

OU is also looking to Unisa to help raise and maintain their university standards. “Beyond the study materials, we are looking at collaborating in ensuring that we have the support from Unisa academics in various fields, be it the moderators for examinations to ensure that we are on the right track for quality assurance or be it the examiners for our PhD, DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), or MBA students,” explains Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, Director-General of OU.

Sukon is very excited by future collaborations with Unisa is the field of research as well.  OU has started two research projects: one being a Diabetes Centre (in collaboration with the University of Oxford) and the other a National School for Entrepreurship in Mauritius, which is still being set up. “We would like to share this with colleagues from Unisa who would like to make use of our facilities and we also want to extend this invite for an exchange of students who want to come over and conduct their research with us,” offers Sukon graciously.

With the MoU signed in this year of Unisa celebrating 140 years of shaping futures, Sukon says, “As we say in Indian philosophy, it’s God’s grace.  It is something we will always remember because of this iconic year that Unisa celebrates its mark in higher education and the lives it’s changed along the way.”

Intent on contributing to shaping Africa’s development, especially in the higher education sphere, Professor Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, believes Unisa’s role is huge when supporting new institutions like OU. “We’re trying to juxtapose this particular development with the role we’ve always played in higher education. In this particular instance the Open University of Mauritius will, in our view, serve as a platform that will assist us in having a sense of how to proceed when we want to do things of this nature. In the higher education environment, we are very few, despite how it looks on the surface, so it’s very important for us to have this close working relationship, because this is what will ultimately strengthen our knowledge generation business we’re involved in.”

Committed to Africa’s development in the higher education sphere and as a whole, Unisa is looking forward to collaborating with the Open University of Mauritius through study material, research and student exchange. Pictured at the signing of an MoU on 24 April 2013 are, standing, Dr Molapo Qhobela (Vice-Principal: Institutional Development), and Prof Rita Maré (Vice-Principal Academic: Teaching and Learning), and, seated, Prof Barney Erasmus (Vice-Principal: Operations), Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon (Director-General: OU), and Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor)

*Article by Kirosha Naicker