The RSC accreditation process is an example to other UNICAMP undergraduate courses. The university is working on a comprehensive evaluation process, aiming to qualify each one of the educational programs. The self-reflection and external evaluation components of the accreditation process have been a timely contribution to our academic community.
The University of Mauritius is one of only 25 universities outside the United Kingdom and is the 1st in Africa to have an RSC accredited Chemistry degree programme. This is clearly a massive achievement for the island. Having an RSC accredited BSc (Hons) Chemistry degree from the University of Mauritius has definitely been beneficial to students and employers since it shows that the course is one of excellence worldwide and confirms international recognition. The Chemistry staff at the University of Mauritius always strives to provide the high standards in Chemistry teaching and consolidates the effective background training of students which has helped to offer assurances to both employers and students in a competitive global and national job market. An accredited degree also allows easier engagement with industry/companies as well as networking and collaboration with other universities abroad. In particular, this year itself there was a student who had been able to work in the chemistry laboratory in a UK university thanks to the RSC International Student Research Bursary. In addition, this accreditation has been attracting students from the African continent.
Having the recognition of a world authority in the field of chemistry, such as the Royal Society of Chemistry, is a guarantee of the quality of our educational and research processes and makes our institution attractive for students and researchers from Mexico and other countries. In the period 2013-2018, applications for admission to our program have increased over 100%, collaborative projects between our professors and others from foreign universities have increased too, as well as the interest of current students in participating in academic exchange. In addition, knowing the RSC accreditation criteria has broadened our vision of the profession and adopting them has led us to improve the curriculum we offer to our students.
RSC accreditation of our undergraduate degree programmes gives reassurance to our applicants and current students from the UK and from overseas and to employers that our curriculum, learning environment and assessment processes meet exacting, contemporary standards. And as we seek to keep all aspects of our degree programmes fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world through curriculum review, the regular, five-year cycle of RSC accreditation confirms to all our stakeholders that we continue to meet or exceed these standards over time. Such validation and recognition from the RSC contributes significantly to Manchester’s status as an attractive place for students seeking a world-class degree in chemistry.
The RSC accreditation of our programme is a strong recognition of the excellent standards and high quality education that the Department of Chemistry offers to our students. Through pursuing the accreditation, we are always in the process of continual improvement and ongoing evaluation of our teaching and learning practices to benefit our students. We are delighted to be the first university in Hong Kong to receive the RSC accreditation for a BSc Chemistry Programme.
