As a small country trying to penetrate the market for higher education for students in the region and even beyond, Mauritius has its task cut out. It is not alone in this game as the established higher education providing countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and many others have understood since long that the education sector can be very lucrative and it can also generate lots of spin-offs for the economy. These countries which have imposed very high fees for university access on students from the developing countries must now compete with emerging countries that offer quality education. The thirst of students from the pejoratively–called third world for first world university education in these countries which seemed unquenchable at present is petering out.

No one can dispute that the standard of education in those countries is world class and a world class fee is also exacted for it. While Mauritius is seeking a footprint into this sector, it has to understand that it must be in a position to provide world class education and to guarantee that the degrees and diplomas that bear the stamp of the country will be recognized all over the world.

It is one thing to say that Mauritius has its own laws regarding education at all levels. But it is a totally different ball game when foreign students pay to study in this country. It is not the intention for all these foreign students to stay here and to be employed as locals. Their ambition, which is a perfectly legitimate one, is to obtain a degree or other higher educational qualification in order to be employable in their own country or in any other country.

The absolute need for international recognition of Mauritian degrees etc is unavoidable. Any attempt to dilute this requirement is doomed to failure. Those who pretend otherwise are doing a great disservice to the nation and they should be sanctioned.

Higher education can become a growth sector only if we can ensure that quality of what is taught is comparable to what obtains in other well-established education – providing countries. We must steer clear of what was being said during the Soviet times that the USSR had different institutions for training its own students and the foreigners. Those who recall those days will recall the famous – or infamous – Patrice Lumumba University. The doctors who were trained there and admitted as doctors were not allowed to use their medical knowledge and skills on the Soviet citizens.

If the education sector is to be nurtured then humility and a commitment to quality must be present. Arrogance about it is counterproductive and carries the seeds of the destruction of this important sector. Singapore – and however much I hate to bring in this country – is the country that has been able to develop this education industry and to maintain consistently high standards. The professionalism and discipline which Singapore has instilled in its educational entrepreneurs are the keys to its success. Professors of prestigious universities, researchers of world repute are staff members of its educational institutions and, unlike this ‘plaisir’ country, not all students obtain 100 % marks at the exams.

The time to take this sector to the drawing board is now. Unless rigour and humility take charge, we might as well say goodbye to this sector. Political considerations must not be allowed to influence this sector.