SEYCHELLES TOURISM ACADEMY LAUNCHES ON LINE TOURISM COURSE
In what surely is another First in the Indian Ocean has the Seychelles Tourism Academy launched their first online tourism course, now available through www.seychellestourismacademy.edu.sc and partnered by the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth. The launch of the eLearning Sustainable Tourism Course at the Seychelles Tourism Academy by the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange and John Lesperance, an education specialist from the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth has been described by the Principal Flavien Joubert of the Seychelles Tourism Academy as a milestone for the Academy which to join the online Virtual University for Small State of the Commonwealth‘.
The Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange, in the presence of the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Elsia Grandcourt and the CEO of NHRDC Mrs Margaret Pillay, said: The launching of the e- Learning Sustainable Tourism Course is a step forward for the Seychelles Tourism Academy. The e-Learning course set into motion will attain the objective of a better trained workforce from the Seychelles Tourism Academy. The country needs a work force from the tourism industry which is better trained, and we are committed in ensuring that our Tourism Academy becomes and remains the professional support for the pillar of our economy. The partnership developed between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Commonwealth for Learning is to be commended and I personally appreciate the effort of the Seychelles Tourism Academy to embark on these online courses with the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth, which I believe will guide the Academy into the right direction in delivering the e-Learning Sustainable Tourism Course.
The Sustainable Tourism Course is part of the existing course of the Seychelles Tourism Academy students in Tour Guiding and Management. Following its online launching on the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth it will in the near future become a mandatory course for all students.
In his insight on the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth, John Lesperance explained that the network initiated by and built on the support of Ministers of Educations of developing small States of the Commonwealth will provide support to the Seychelles Tourism Academy on how to deliver courses and build capacity. The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth will also provide training to the Seychelles Tourism Academy on the use of learning management systems as well as help host the Academys MOODLE server.
Industry sources immediately welcomed the news of the new course element, saying that the use of the latest technologies can only benefit students and as e-learning spreads, classes could even be taken by those already or still in the work place to in the future competently engage in e-Commerce.
Combined with the ongoing transformation of the Seychelles Tourism Academy, which is presently implementing a three phase project constructing new class rooms, a restaurant and conference facility, a dedicated block for hospitality management students, a training Spa and branded villas to acquaint students with the concept of 4 and 5 star service delivery and a 30 room application hotel, this latest innovation is bound to catapult STA to the very top of the African hospitality institutions united under the Association of Hotel Schools in Sub Saharan Africa. Watch this space for regular updates from the Indian Ocean islands tourism sectors.
