 |
| Hon F. David (left) with the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Chancellor of the University |
At the graduation ceremony held on 29 July 2025 for the
Faculty of Agriculture, at the
University of Mauritius, a key address was delivered by the guest speaker Hon Gilles Fabrice David, Junior Minister of AgroIndustry, Food
Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries.
He expressed profound happiness and pride in addressing the "future of
our country," referring to the graduates as the "builders of
tomorrow, the custodians of knowledge and transformation".
He emphasised that this momentous
occasion marked not only the culmination of years of perseverance and
intellectual growth but also the beginning of a path that demands creativity,
innovation, courage, and "unwavering vision, bold leadership and
determination to engineer a future that will transcend boundaries and
transforms challenges into opportunities".
Science-Based
Policy and Sectoral Transformation
A core theme of his aaddress was the
critical importance of science-based policy, with evidence, research, and
innovation guiding national decisions, especially in areas like climate
resilience, food security, renewable energy, and the green and blue economies.
The graduates, as future scientists, engineers, and researchers, are expected
to provide the knowledge to shape this future.
The speech highlighted
significant shifts and future directions in key sectors:
- Agriculture: Beyond Soil and Space
- The Faculty of Agriculture,
established in 1914, is the oldest of its kind in Mauritius, boasting
over a century of excellence.
- Agriculture today is no longer solely
defined by space and soil; it is "driven by satellites, sensors,
artificial intelligence and smart systems".
- Graduates are poised to lead in digital
agriculture, precision farming, climate-smart solutions, and
biotechnology innovations.
- This transformation is crucial because
Mauritius still imports 75% of its food, amounting to a Rs 61 billion
bill in 2023, posing both an economic issue and a strategic risk.
- By working in agriculture, graduates are
not just cultivating crops but "cultivating a resilient
Mauritius".
- The government is investing in this
sector through climate-smart agriculture training, agro-processing
opportunities, and innovation hubs, with the National Agricultural
Research Institute evolving into a 21st-century partner for startups and
global networks.
- Engineering: Addressing New Frontiers
- The Faculty of Engineering, founded in
1968, close to the nation's independence, has been instrumental in
Mauritius's industrial growth, producing minds that built infrastructure,
powered industries, and innovated the economy for nearly six decades.
- Today's engineers face new challenges,
including renewable energy, sustainable design, green technologies, and
ocean innovation.
- A critical requirement for all new
projects and developments is "climate proofing," to
withstand the impacts of a changing world.
- The world needs problem-solvers who
can "think beyond boundaries," a skill the graduates have
been trained to acquire.
Mauritius: A
"Big Ocean State" with Big Ambitions
A particularly
exciting vision presented was Mauritius's identity as a "big ocean
state" (BOSS).
- Mauritius is striving to redefine itself
not by its small landmass but by its vast ocean territory of 2.2
million square kilometers, which is "a thousand times bigger than our
land".
- The ambition is to become a "boss
in the region," a "driving force for Africa, a bridge to Asia,
and an ocean leader for the world".
- A major step towards this vision was the
Prime Minister's announcement at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference
(UNO3) in France of the creation of a new, full-fledged Faculty of
Ocean Studies in Mauritius, which will serve as a "hub of
research, innovation and ocean leadership". This will be an
expansion from the current Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies
within the Faculty of Science.
- The speaker expressed a personal dream
of Mauritius one day hosting an international institution focused on
ocean studies.
- To realize this, the speaker has already
engaged with the Minister for Tertiary Education, Science and Research and
the Vice Chancellor, expressing readiness to collaborate on engineering
this new faculty.
- The Mauritius Oceanography Institute
(MOI), with its 19 qualified marine scientists (including five with
doctoral degrees), is identified as a key partner. MOI can host
students for projects, and its staff can serve as academics, contributing
to teaching and supervision while continuing their research.
- Crucially, to ensure job prospects for
graduates, MOI and the Albion Fisheries Research Center (both under the
speaker's ministry) will commit to recruiting at least five graduates
annually over the next five years, by which time the new faculty is
expected to be strong enough to absorb its own graduates and offer
postgraduate courses. This initiative aims to create "a new
dynamism in ocean science," opening further opportunities.
A Call to Reimagine
and Lead
Regardless of their
field—agriculture, ocean science, or engineering—the graduates' skills are "critical
for shaping a resilient, innovative and sustainable Mauritius". The
future will be challenging but meaningful, demanding that they "reimagine
what can be, what will be," rather than simply replicating what came
before.
The address powerfully
concluded by emphasizing that:
- "A nation that cannot feed itself is
a nation at risk".
- Conversely, "a nation that invests
in its youth empowers its scientists and engineers and transform
challenges into opportunities is a nation that secures its destiny".
The graduating class
was urged to step forward with courage, conviction, and creativity, recognizing
that both the land and the ocean are calling—not just for exploitation, but
for "stewardship, innovation and transformation". The speech
ended with heartfelt congratulations and wishes for a journey ahead filled with
discovery, service, and pride for themselves, their families, their nation, and
future generations.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
