Seema Mughal, (Chancellor of Greenwich University): “Greenwich University will be a combination of 8 different nationalities”

In June, Greenwich University will welcome its first batch of students. Chancellor Seema Mughal gives a light on the venue and the vision of the new university in Mauritius.

BUSINESSMAG. What has encouraged Greenwich University to settle in Mauritius?

We came to Mauritius without any research. In fact, someone approached us to open up an affiliated campus. But when you work it out, you have to find what are the rules and regulations of your home country, and the country where you are working for. So, the High Education Commission wants only universities to go abroad and have their own campus. That is no affiliation. Because this is only then that universities can control the quality. So then, we had to find out the ways to open up a campus through the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). They set down the principles. And then the High Education Commission and the tertiary body of Pakistan set down their own rules and regulations. We followed them. And then, today after two years of hard work, the campus is being established.

Why Mauritius? The future is now on the African continent and Mauritius is a place which is a paradise on this earth. Mauritius is safe and sound, with lot of room for quality education. But also for the African students, the Asian students to come to this part of the world and have a quality education.

BUSINESSMAG. So when will Greenwich University welcome its first students?

We are going to start the first class in the first week of June 2017. Right now, we are in the process of having visas for those who are coming from abroad. Those from the Mauritian market will be coming and joining us from the first fall 2017 term in the first week of June. They are right now paying it. Till now, we have 40 entries. And what is the best part at the moment is the fact that the students who had paid off to date are from eight different countries of Africa.

So Greenwich University will be an international campus. It will be a true combination of Africa and Asia. We got students from Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka but also Madagascar, Comoros, Nigeria. It is a wide variety. So, we are expecting 8 different nationalities to be at the campus.

BUSINESSMAG. Mauritius has the vision to become the Education Hub of this part of the world. Do you truly think that this can be achieved?

In my opinion, this has already been achieved. The proof is that 8 different nationalities are being registered at the Greenwich University. Therefore, one of your objectives to make Mauritius an Education Hub has already been achieved.

BUSINESSMAG. Mauritius has been welcoming international brands in terms of universities. Do you think that there is still room?

Yes. At Greenwich University, we have this belief: education has no boundaries. So there is always room for universities, for more programs and for more courses. And this applies to Mauritius. The only thing which I believe and which should be followed by everyone is that you should follow the rules.

BUSINESSMAG. Mismatch is an international issue and Mauritius is facing it. How will Greenwich University tackle this issue in Mauritius?

We are right now working on what are the needs of the local market. By the end of 2017, we will release our solutions to address them. But I will be very honest and I will not say that the local people are not doing it. They are doing it. But there is always room for improvement.