President James Michel met with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Professor Sir Adrian Smith this afternoon at State House.He was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Seychelles, Mrs. Lindsay Skoll and the University of London’s Head of Institutions and Global development Dr. Tangjie Ward.

Professor Smith is in Seychelles to attend the University of Seychelles' third graduation ceremony, which takes place tomorrow.

President Michel, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Seychelles,  thanked Professor Smith for the excellent partnership that the University of Seychelles and the University of London have established over the past five past years as part of the University of London External Programme and expressed his wish that the two universities continue to find new avenues of cooperation in the future.

"I would like to thank the University of London for the role it has played in developing degree study programmes since the inception of the University of Seychelles. We would like to continue this partnership and to share innovative ideas on how to build on it, "said the President.

During the meeting President Michel and Professor Smith expressed their satisfaction on the success and growth of the University of Seychelles and the discussed the possibilities for introducing research programmes.

Professor Smith said that the University of London is committed to continue further collaboration with the University of Seychelles and that it is important to find new strands of new disciplines with international perspectives to include in the academic studies.

Speaking to the national media following his meeting with the President, Professor Smith said, "We are working in close partnership with the University of Seychelles.…discussing future possibilities in terms of research, the unique things about the Seychelles about the maritime life, green energy etc… …how the University can play its role in the society, in the economy. We will be talking about all of those things, so not just studying, not just students, but the wider agenda of how higher education can transform society and the economy.”

He added that the University of Seychelles, although still a very young university, had a successful five years of academic performance.

“It has achieved tremendous things and the number of students is growing... The President’s ambition is to have a graduate in every family and I think what is happening puts us well on track for that. So it is a great success story. Total success story,” said Professor Smith.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Seychelles, Professor Dennis Hardy, the Secretary General in the Office of the President, Mrs Lise Bastienne, and the Chief Press Secretary, Ms Srdjana Janosevic.