The legal basis of the work of TEC

The Tertiary Education Act of 2011 states that TEC shall make recommendations to the relevant authorities on:

• the development of tertiary education;
• the charters of tertiary education institutions;
• the names of tertiary education institutions;
• the orderly growth and development of tertiary education institutions;
• regulation of the admission of persons to tertiary education institutions;
• guidelines and criteria for the allocation of funds to tertiary education institutions;
• financial provision for tertiary education;
• guidelines and criteria on fees to be charged to learners;
• the form and content of learning programmes to be conducted by tertiary education institutions;
• the implementation of procedures and standards set by the Seychelles Qualifications Authority;
• policies and guidelines on tertiary education institutions functioning jointly or in association with one another in or outside Seychelles;
• the performance of tertiary education institutions and their use of funds provided by the Government or otherwise; and
• policies and guidelines on the involvement of tertiary education institutions in business activities.

Over and above the mandate set out in section 4, articles 1-2 of the Act, TEC has additional responsibilities as follows:

• Recommends approval to the respective authority for setting up private tertiary education institution (it is only then that it may be registered as a private company. 13. (1) )
• With SQA, TEC gives approval for the offering of foreign programmes and provides recognition of the accreditation system of countries from which foreign programmes are derived. 16. (1)
• Approves form of awards for graduates. The institution(s) or the respective Ministry therefore recommends and TEC approves. 17. (1)
• Advises the Minister on regulations for the admission of foreign learners. 35. (3)
• Recommends code of ethics for professional and academic staff of professional centres. 33. (4)
• Carries out periodic assessment of the activities and performance of private tertiary education institutions. 13. (2)
• Reviews estimates of expenditure of Government tertiary institutions and recommends to the Minister for approval. 42. (1)
• Draws up criteria to determine cost of a learning programme at a private tertiary education institution 41. (2)
• Considers appeals made against decisions taken by TEIs which has been brought to its attention by a body representing learners. 37. (2)