Message from the Dean

Associate Professor (Dr) Joyce Govinden Soulange [cite: 1]
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Mauritius (UoM) [cite: 1]

Cultivating Excellence

In a short promotional reel, Associate Professor (Dr) Joyce Govinden Soulange directly addresses prospective students, highlighting how the faculty is “cultivating excellence” and preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals and leaders[cite: 1].

“Build a career that feeds the world!” [cite: 2]

She positions studying agriculture not just as a degree, but as a meaningful, impactful vocation contributing to global food security, sustainability, and development[cite: 3]. This is especially relevant for Mauritius and similar island or developing economies facing climate challenges, limited land, and the need for resilient food systems[cite: 3].

Key Messages from the Dean

She emphasizes three main strengths of the Faculty[cite: 5]:

• Applied, specialised courses: Programmes blend scientific theory with practical, industry-relevant skills[cite: 6]. Topics often cover crop and animal production, food science and technology, biotechnology, microbiology, agribusiness, sustainable practices, digital technologies in agriculture, biosecurity, climate resilience, and more[cite: 7]. The focus is on modern, problem-solving education rather than purely theoretical learning[cite: 8].
• Hands-on experience through internships: Students gain real-world exposure via structured internships in the agricultural sector, such as farms, agribusinesses, research institutions, and food processing companies[cite: 9]. This bridges the gap between classroom knowledge and professional demands, helping graduates become job-ready[cite: 10].
• The UoM Farm: where theory meets practice: The faculty operates its own UoM Farm — an 8.5-hectare (21-acre) teaching and research facility on campus in Réduit[cite: 11]. It serves as a living laboratory for students to apply concepts in crop production, animal husbandry, soil management, and experimental work[cite: 12]. This is one of the oldest and most distinctive features of the faculty, originally founded as the School of Agriculture in 1914[cite: 13].

Programmes Offered

The faculty has a long history but is pushing modern, applied training[cite: 15]. Many programmes are designed to align with national priorities, including food security, sustainable agriculture, and blue economy elements like aquaculture, as well as international trends like digital ag and climate-smart practices[cite: 16].

Explore all available options on the Faculty of Agriculture website.

Why This Matters (Broader Context)

Mauritius is a small island nation with limited arable land, vulnerable to climate change, and focused on diversifying its economy beyond tourism and sugar[cite: 19]. Agriculture here includes traditional crops, emerging high-value sectors such as horticulture, aquaculture, and agro-processing, and innovation in sustainability[cite: 20].

Graduates from UoM’s Faculty of Agriculture often pursue careers in:

• Government and extension services [cite: 22]
• Private agribusiness and food industries [cite: 23]
• Research and development [cite: 24]
• Entrepreneurship, such as starting farms or tech-enabled agri ventures [cite: 25]
• International organisations focused on food security [cite: 26]

The Dean’s message frames agriculture as a high-impact career — “feeding the world” — which ties into global challenges like UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), climate action, and economic resilience[cite: 27].