Review of a Year of Reforms - Higher Education: Mauritius Aims for a Regional Leadership Role

On Monday, Minister Kaviraj Sukon presented a review of a year of reforms aimed at democratizing access to university education while maintaining academic standards, as the country seeks to establish itself as a regional reference.

Mauritius is showcasing its ambitions. The island retained its top position in sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Innovation Index 2025 and climbed two places globally to rank 53rd. Minister of Higher Education Kaviraj Sukon outlined a clear strategy: to transform Mauritius into a regional "Knowledge Hub" that attracts African students while retaining local talent.

In terms of innovation, Mauritius now ranks sixth globally among upper-middle-income countries, a success attributed largely to the efforts of the Mauritius Research Innovation Council. To realize this ambition, Mauritius is forging prestigious partnerships. Agreements have been signed with the UK's Quality Assurance Agency to facilitate the establishment of British universities in the country. More recently, President Emmanuel Macron's visit led to the signing of an agreement with the French High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education, paving the way for French institutions to collaborate here.

"These agreements demonstrate our active efforts to bring academic excellence to Mauritius through our proactive policy of developing our Knowledge Hub," the minister explained. The goal is clear: "to encourage students to benefit from renowned universities here in Mauritius rather than going abroad and to welcome students from Africa."

The University of Mauritius has entered the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, ranking 778th in the teaching category among 2,860 institutions listed over the past 115 years. "We are not at the top yet; we still have a long way to go," Kaviraj Sukon tempered, while emphasizing that this ranking "demonstrates our potential for quality education." The Mauritian research sector can also boast two professors – Nunkoo and Seetanah – listed among the top 2% of the most cited scientists worldwide according to the Elsevier-Stanford University 2025 rankings.

A portal called "Study in Mauritius" is in the final stages of development. This platform will act as a one-stop shop for students, whether Mauritian or foreign, to manage their university applications, visa requests, and housing, while also offering employers the chance to search for interns.

Democratization Without Compromising Quality

However, this pursuit of excellence comes with an imperative for democratization. "It is this government's policy to facilitate students' access to tertiary institutions," the minister reminded, emphasizing that "the goal is to do so without lowering standards."

Now, students can enter university with three credits and two A-levels, a measure that Kaviraj Sukon states ends "an injustice." "Every student has a place in our public universities, and this is done based on merit," he asserted. Selective fields such as medicine, law, or engineering still require excellent results.

This open policy is supported by robust financial provisions: over 51,000 students have benefited from the free higher education program, costing Rs 3.7 billion, with around 35,000 studying in public institutions. "Higher education is not reserved for the elite alone," the minister emphasized, asserting that "higher education is a pillar of our economy."

Aligning Education with Economic Realities

However, this ambition faces a persistent challenge: the disconnect between university training and business needs. This issue has been "denounced by business leaders for years," according to the minister. To address this, the ministry is now collaborating with Business Mauritius to revise academic curricula.

Starting in January, a pilot project for micro-certifications will be launched at universities. These "short study programs aimed at addressing the concrete needs of the job market" will be developed in collaboration with the private sector, with full implementation in public institutions expected by 2027.

Additionally, 88 hybrid courses have been developed across various disciplines – arts, music, languages, medicine, sciences, mathematics, law – as part of the Technology-Enabled Learning initiative, conducted in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning. Over 200 educational resources are also available for free via the National Open Educational Resources Repository.

Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology

In a rapidly evolving field, Mauritius aims to take a pioneering role. The minister, who initially admitted to being "against artificial intelligence," now acknowledges that it is "undeniable that these are tools that can help students, lecturers, and researchers." Regulations will be introduced in early 2026 to ethically govern the use of AI in higher education, making Mauritius the first country in Africa to propose such regulations.

The government's ambitions extend beyond the strictly academic sphere. "One of the ministry's goals is to make biotechnology a pillar of our economy," said Kaviraj Sukon. Discussions are underway regarding CAR T-Cell therapy for cancer, a revolutionary approach that involves modifying the patient's immune cells to destroy cancer cells. The Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology Limited is exploring training Mauritian oncologists in this cutting-edge technique with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council of India.

A biotechnology laboratory was inaugurated this year at the University of Technology Mauritius. The Centre for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, based at the University of Mauritius, is "making a name for itself globally" for its research in agriculture and regenerative medicine using artificial intelligence.

Support for research has also strengthened. The minister noted that "for the first time in history, a Prime Minister started a Budget with research." The HEC Research Fund received 43 proposals this year, with 28 projects approved for a total of Rs 14.9 million, of which Rs 4.6 million has already been disbursed.

In the field of space, Mauritius is preparing to launch its second satellite in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Indian experts recently visited the island to discuss the progress of work and the utilization of satellite data.

These initiatives form part of a comprehensive overhaul of the sector. "This year has not been easy," admitted Kaviraj Sukon, stating that "for the past ten years, the tertiary sector has been relegated to the background." This reality justifies the magnitude of the reforms undertaken to "restore the reputation of higher education and research."

The Higher Education Summit, held in June at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Moka, marked a turning point. For the first time, all stakeholders – public and private universities, researchers, and partners – came together to improve the system. A national strategic plan for the next ten years is currently being finalized in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning.