New Dean of Mauritius Branch Campus appointed

Dr David Poyton, Dean of Aberystwyth University Mauritius Branch Campus

Dr David Poyton, Dean of Aberystwyth University Mauritius Branch Campus

10 December 2014

Dr David Poyton, a Reader in Law at Aberystwyth University, has been seconded to lead a Branch Campus of the University in Mauritius.

As founding Dean, Dr Poyton will be responsible for the establishment, operation and development of the campus as well as its academic portfolio and engagement with the Mauritian and international communities.

He takes up the role with immediate effect and reports directly to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and International, Professor John Grattan.

Dr Poyton is no stranger to the University having graduated from its Department of Law and Criminology with a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws, and a PhD on the application of legal principles and concepts to electronic commerce transactions.

He began his employment at the University in 1999 as a Tutor in the Department of Law and Criminology and the School of Management and Business.

Dr Poyton said; “It is my ambition to see a significant increase in the global market presence of Aberystwyth University. International development is key to the future success of the University and having a campus in Mauritius will help us reach that goal.

“I intend to build and nurture relationships within the education sector in Mauritius as well as with government, NGOs and commercial bodies.

“I will draw on my years of teaching, research, leadership and management experience to ensure that students at Aberystwyth University Mauritius have a first class learning experience and enter the professional world with the practical skills needed to contribute and excel. I am thoroughly looking forward to this opportunity.”

The branch campus will begin teaching on 16 October 2015 - a landmark date in the history of Aberystwyth University which opened its doors for the first time on 16 October 1872.

The academic programmes proposed for the 2015/16 academic year are BSc degrees in Accounting and Finance; Business Finance; Business Management; Management with Law, Computing and LLB degrees in, Law and Themed Law Degrees.  At postgraduate level, MScs in International Business and Advanced Computer Science will be delivered at the campus.

Construction of the main campus building, which will be the first phase in the construction of a modern residential campus, is nearing completion and is located in Quartier Militaire in the centre of the island.

Students studying at Aberystwyth University’s Mauritius campus will enjoy the same status as their counterparts at Aberystwyth and upon successful completion of their course will receive Aberystwyth University degrees.

All undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered at the Mauritius campus will be subject to the same quality assurance processes applied at Aberystwyth University.

To ensure consistency of provision and foster closer working relationships, academic and administrative staff from both campuses will be encouraged to work together and to grasp opportunities to visit either campus.

New staff teaching at the campus will receive an induction into the University and access to training activities where possible. Staff will be encouraged to pursue the Postgraduate Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education which leads to fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Equally, students studying in Mauritius who wish to spend a period of time studying in Aberystwyth may be able to do so, and would be offered the choice of attending graduation at Aberystwyth or Mauritius, upon successfully completing their courses. Students studying at Aberystwyth may also be able to spend a period of their studies at the branch campus, if they wish to do so.

Anyone who wishes to register an expression of interest in hearing about any jobs that will be advertised should contact hr@aber.ac.uk  

Prospective students should contact mauritius.campus@aber.ac.uk

AU50614