Having observed Mauritius’ tertiary education landscape since 2010, I cannot help but notice that the new Tertiary Education Strategy marks one of the most significant chapters in its recent history. I vividly recall an afternoon in 2014 when I was having tea with a few lecturers from the University of Mauritius in Réduit. There was a quiet pride in their voices as they discussed the progress of the Free Tertiary Education Scheme in increasing access. However, one remark stood out amidst their optimism: “We are becoming adept at conferring degrees, but are we equipping graduates for meaningful futures?” That question has resonated in every meaningful discussion about Mauritian higher education since, capturing the difference between mere statistical growth and true opportunity.

Today, authorities appear dedicated to closing that gap with exceptional resolve. From late 2024, the Minister of Tertiary Education, Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, and his officials have introduced a series of reforms that show intention rather than mere symbolic acts. The Higher Education Act has been amended to enable flexible credit accumulation and institutional accreditation, thereby fostering partnerships with reputable international institutions. Mauritius has established Africa’s first national framework for micro-credentials, with pilots already progressing in sectors of urgent economic importance: artificial intelligence (AI), tourism, information technology, finance, and healthcare. Ethical guidelines for AI in higher education – a continental first – have been issued; mandatory AI modules have been integrated into public curricula, and a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the United Kingdom’s Quality Assurance Agency, enhancing the authority and legitimacy of the National Higher Education Strategy (2025-2035).

These initiatives are based on one of Mauritius’ most enduring achievements: equitable access on a scale uncommon in Africa. The gross tertiary enrolment rate is around 45-49 per cent, supported by the Free Tertiary Education Scheme, which continues to benefit over 51,000 students. The reforms signify a conscious shift – from providing access as an end in itself to guaranteeing access that results in employability, entrepreneurial skills, digital literacy, advanced research, and genuine contributions to national prosperity.

Yet, the path to establishing Mauritius as a regional hub for higher education is filled with structural rather than temporary challenges. Building meaningful, reciprocal partnerships with leading universities and research institutions in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States remains the main obstacle. Mauritius has clear advantages: political stability, a multicultural society, bilingual proficiency in English and French, and a moderate cost of living. However, it is often perceived as marginal. Post-Brexit visa policies have hindered mobility for students and academics; European partnerships tend to focus on larger member states; American engagement is often sporadic and more securityoriented than academic. Without careful nurturing of high-trust relationships locally, Mauritius risks remaining a junior partner – a site for satellite campuses rather than an equal participant in knowledge creation.

The ongoing brain drain exacerbates the problem. Despite substantial public investment in free education, many of the brightest graduates in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and emerging fields continue to migrate to countries like Canada, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, and others, attracted by better pay, research facilities, career prospects, and quality of life. This causes a systemic issue: the decline of domestic intellectual capital essential for establishing research hubs, attracting partners, and fostering the next generations. Existing strengths – equity, stability, multilingualism, and geographic position in the Indian Ocean – are genuine and should not be understated. However, limitations are equally clear: modest institutional scale and citation impact, inconsistent quality among providers, asymmetrical international arrangements, stretched regulatory capacity, and an inward focus that hampers robust global positioning.

The solution lies in the strategic and innovative use of resources within a limited timeframe. Brain drain could be transformed into brain circulation through targeted incentives: competitive postdoctoral fellowships, grants for blueeconomy startups, retention bonuses, modern laboratories, and well-structured career pathways aligned with priorities such as AI and sustainable marine industries. Diaspora return schemes should be made generous and professionally appealing, making Mauritius a preferred destination rather than a last resort.

A flagship multi-institutional initiative, such as the Blue Knowledge Hub and Health Management and Research, led by the University of Mauritius and its partners, could be established swiftly, focusing on marine sciences, ocean governance, climate resilience, Public Health, and Management Research, as well as the blue economy. Such an initiative would require prompt investment in scholarships, advanced facilities, international consortia, and regular meetings, such as an Indian Ocean Blue Justice Forum or discussions on Public Health issues in Small Islands Developing States, to gain an early advantage before regional rivals make further progress.

International partnerships need rebalancing. Focusing on co-leadership, joint oversight, Mauritius-hosted data repositories, and genuine technology transfer in collaborations with the UK and EU, while intentionally diversifying towards Africa, India, and Asia. Mauritius could plausibly establish itself as an affordable, high-quality, multicultural centre of learning, provided that student services, visa pathways, and visible success stories align with the rhetoric. To achieve these targets, having personnel on the ground is crucial. This could be done by setting up a group of academic consuls – these honorary diplomats, recruited from established Mauritian and diaspora scholars based in key capitals, would serve as advocates, promoting joint doctorates, co-led grants, and recognising Mauritius as a significant research hub. Transparent annual reporting on graduate outcomes, research metrics, and partnership results would help maintain public and investor confidence.

Minister Sukon’s ambition to closely align higher education with national transformation and to set Mauritius as a role model among island states is convincing because it tackles weaknesses while building on existing strengths. The tertiary sector has the potential to reflect the island’s earlier successes in diversifying its economy, sustaining political stability, and promoting social harmony. From an observer’s viewpoint, the trajectory appears credible and the opportunity worthwhile. Mauritius has impressed the world before and could do so again in higher education – as long as the gaps are addressed with urgency and precision. The timing is ideal, but this window will not last forever.