Which organisations provide upskilling opportunities in Seychelles?

Relevant organisations include the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, its Technical Education Division, SQA, CaFEA, UniSey, SIDOL, the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning, employers and professional or sector bodies. The available options are distributed across these organisations rather than offered through one national system.

What does the Skills Development Programme provide for upskilling in Seychelles?

The Skills Development Programme offers six to eighteen months of on-the-job training for eligible participants, including unskilled young people. Published information lists allowances of SCR 1,600 plus a SCR 300 bus pass for ages 15 to 17 and SCR 2,500 plus a SCR 300 bus pass for ages 18 to 20, but age rules should be confirmed for the specific intake because official 2026 information is not fully consistent.

How much do upskilling courses cost in Seychelles?

There is no single national fee schedule for all upskilling courses. Fees depend on the provider and course; published Seychelles Maritime Academy examples range from SCR 800 for a three-day course to SCR 1,500 for some six-day STCW courses, while scholarships, bursaries and SDP allowances may provide support.

How can someone verify whether an upskilling course is recognised in Seychelles?

Check whether the provider and programme are accredited by SQA and ask for the applicable SNQF level, credit value, assessment method and certificate type. Also confirm the fee, duration, entry documents and appeal procedure directly with the provider because no central national catalogue covers every course.

Upskilling in Seychelles

Q: How can prior work experience support upskilling in Seychelles?

Recognition of Prior Learning can assess formal, non-formal and informal learning against an SNQF level. SQA guidance requires at least three years of relevant field experience, and a provider assesses the evidence before issuing a certificate that does not identify the pathway as RPL.

Upskilling in Seychelles means organised or self-directed learning that updates, deepens or broadens skills, or supports a change in professional direction. Opportunities exist through accredited qualifications, short courses, workplace training, apprenticeships, adult learning and recognition of existing experience. The system is broad but fragmented: no single national course catalogue, fee schedule or application deadline covers all providers.

Tip

Treat upskilling in Seychelles as a choice between a recognised qualification, a targeted short course, workplace learning, recognition of prior learning or supported on-the-job training. Match the option to the result you need: formal recognition, a specific job skill, proof of existing experience or practical work access. Verify accreditation, SNQF level or credits, entry requirements, total fee, duration, assessment and certificate with the provider before paying or changing your work plans.

byJoelle&Darren

The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development coordinates policy, workforce development, technical and vocational education, scholarships and lifelong learning. Its Technical Education Division supports competency-based training, apprenticeships and workplace learning. The Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) regulates the Seychelles National Qualifications Framework, known as the SNQF, and handles provider and programme accreditation, quality assurance and qualification recognition. The Careers and Further Education Agency, established under the 2026 Act, supports career guidance, lifelong learning and access to further education and skills development. Formal upskilling can lead to a nationally recognised certificate, diploma or degree registered within the ten-level SNQF. Accredited short courses can also carry an SNQF level and credit value. Non-formal options include short professional courses, sector-specific refresher training and flexible adult learning. The Seychelles Institute of Distance and Open Learning (SIDOL) operates as an adult learning centre for out-of-school young people and adults. The University of Seychelles Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Professional Development includes a Business Development Centre and a Centre for Open Lifelong Learning and Innovation. Providers also offer continuing professional development, often called CPD, and targeted courses in areas such as maritime safety, first aid, fire safety, security, tourism, health, information technology and education leadership. Workplace learning, employer training, structured placements and apprenticeships can develop skills without following a conventional classroom pathway. Recognition of Prior Learning, or RPL, assesses formal, non-formal and informal learning against an SNQF level. SQA guidance requires at least three years of relevant field experience for RPL. A provider assesses the evidence, and the resulting certificate does not identify it as an RPL certificate. An applicant can seek recognition at any SNQF level and may receive credit toward the full qualification. SQA decisions on RPL can be appealed. Access depends on the programme and provider. A UniSey short-course application can request a national identification number, contact details, employment sector and course-specific information. RPL requires evidence of experience and learning. Foreign-qualification evaluation requires an application form, complete documents and a fee. The Skills Development Programme (SDP), administered through the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning, is an option for unskilled young people and other eligible groups to enter six to eighteen months of on-the-job training. Its public information refers to ages 15 to 30 and requests items such as identification, bank details, a CV or photograph, school evidence or a reference, and sometimes a birth certificate or IGCSE or DELF results. A person generally needs commitment, willingness to learn and a positive work attitude, and full-time employment is excluded. The published age rules are not fully consistent with a Cabinet-approved 2026 reform referring to ages 15 to 20, so eligibility should be checked for the specific intake. SDP participants receive a training allowance under the published schedule: ages 15 to 17 receive SCR 1,600 plus a SCR 300 bus pass, and ages 18 to 20 receive SCR 2,500 plus a SCR 300 bus pass. Cabinet approved reforms on 8 January 2026 that refer to a higher intake, priority sectors, transport within the allowance, outsourced soft-skills training, recognition of prior learning and micro-credentials, but implementation and tariff details are not fully harmonised. Completing the programme leads to a certificate; leaving early leads only to a letter of reference. An employer may take on a participant before completion when performance is good, and a field change may be possible for a valid reason. There is no single national price. Course fees depend on the provider and course, while SQA accreditation, RPL and foreign-qualification recognition use fees set in the applicable schedule. Public support can include scholarships, bursaries and the SDP allowance. Published Seychelles Maritime Academy examples include SCR 800 for a three-day Domestic RF/UP EFA or FPFF course, SCR 1,400 for a six-day STCW RF/UP PPST course and SCR 1,500 for other six-day STCW courses. Fees and durations for UniSey, SIDOL and RPL are not centrally published. The 2026 Revised National Open and Distance Learning Policy promotes inclusive, technology-supported learning and learner support. Its action plan and steering arrangements still require operationalisation. A suitable course should therefore be checked with the provider for accreditation, SNQF level, credits, entry documents, delivery format, duration, fee, assessment, certificate and appeal procedure. Continuing education in this context covers adult learning, CPD, upskilling, reskilling, RPL, workplace learning and open learning; ordinary initial vocational education, ordinary tertiary study and language learning belong to adjacent areas unless they are directly part of one of these pathways.