The Polytechnics in Mauritius

Two polytechnic institutions exist in the country.

The Swami Dayanand Institute of Management runs diploma level Programmes in Information Technology, Administration and Accounting; such diploma programmes were formerly provided by the UoM.
The Institut Supérieur de Téchnologie offers diploma level programmes (Brevét de Téchnicien Supérieur) in Electro-Technics, Mecatronics and Building Engineering. All the programmes are run on a full-time basis.
Technical School Management Trust Fund
The TSMTF was created in 1990 to manage the Polytechnics. It is administered by a Board. Industry Advisory Committees, composed of representatives of both the public and private sectors, are appointed in respect of the programmes. The committees function is to:

establish programme objectives, curriculum content and delivery modes;
establish terminal standards and certification;
prescribe training equipment, hardware and software;
prescribe training facilities and environment;
advise on industrial training attachments;
review programme results and diploma holders' employment performance;
monitor and review market demand;
review and upgrade programmes.
Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (Ex:IVTB)

The IVTB was set up in 1988 to promote vocational education and training with the purposes of supplying workforce for the industrial, services and domestic sectors. Most of the programmes are vocational nature leading to the National Trade Certification (levels 3 and 2). As from 1998 the IVTB began tertiary level programmes at the levels of certificate and diploma in areas including Hotel Management, Automation and Information Technology.

Since 2004, the IVTB has introduced the National Trade Certificate Foundation Course for students who have completed their Prevocational Education Level 3. The course teaches Craftsmanship.

The IVTB has also introduced other courses such as IC3 for students of National Trade Certificate Level 2 and 3.

The Mauritius Institute of Health
The MIH was set up in 1989 to cater for the training needs of health professionals, local and regional. It organizes courses and programmes, mostly of short duration for medical and para-medical personnel.

Private institutions/distance education
Private institutions and organisations, which amount to more than 35, are offering programmes in Management, Accountancy and Information Technology. Most of these private institutions are local counterparts of overseas institutions and are offering programmes ranging from sub-degree to postgraduate ones through a mixed-mode system, encompassing both distance learning and face-to face tutorials. A majority of the examinations are conducted by the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES) and a few are organised and invigilated by the overseas institutions themselves in collaboration with the local partner. Key players include the Charles Telfair Institute, MALEM, the Mauritius Employers Federation and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

University of the Indian Ocean
The UIO, established in January 1998 under the aegis of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), is a network of tertiary education and research institutions of the five member states, namely Comores, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles. It offers tertiary level programmes of a regional vocation in the five member countries. During its three-year pilot phase, the secretariat of the UIO was based in Reunion. In line with a recent decision, the seat of the UIO will be a rotating one among member states.

Institut de la Francophonie pour L'Entrepreneuriat
IFE came into operation in 1999, within the context of an agreement signed between the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and the "Association des Universités Partiellement ou Entièrement de Langue Française et L'Université des Réseaux d'Expréssion Française". It offers Masters and Doctoral programmes and undertake research in entrepreneuriat and related fields with a regional vocation.

Sir Seewosagur Ramgoolam Medical College (SSR) Medical College
SSRMC was created in 1999 and is affiliated with the University of Mauritius. It is situated at Belle Rive nearby the city of Curepipe. It caters for local and overseas students, from India, South Africa, Malaysia, Gulf and other Indian Ocean Rim countries. A report from an international monitoring committee highlighted that the teaching room of the medical college is inadequate and badly sited for clinical teaching.

The five year degree costs US$50000. Approximately 20% of seats are allocated to local students on the 5-year MBBS program which is divided into ten semesters of 6 months each and BDS course of four years followed by a one-year compulsory rotatory internship. The college offers postgraduation courses MD/MS in five specialities of Medicine, Surgery, Radio diagnosis, Anaesthesiology, and Ophthalmology. The minimum entry requirement is completion of both Cambridge SC and Cambridge HSC examinations, with a minimum requirement of AAB at HSC level. The MBBS degree Of SSR is recognised by the Medical board of California, IMED/ECFMG USA and by the World Health Organisation.

Indian Ocean Dental School and Hospital
The Indian Ocean Dental School and Hospital, managed by the R.F. Gandhi A.K. Trust Limited, began in 2003. It is affiliated to Bhavnagar University, Gujarat, India.

The institute is the key provider of dental education in the region, providing the BDS programme. The program duration is 4 years plus 1 year of internship. Further details can be accessed from www.iodsh.com