Port Louis, September 22, 2025: Vivo Energy Mauritius, holder of the Shell brand in Mauritius, has signed a letter of intent to partner with the University of Mauritius (UoM), aiming to offer more opportunities to young academicians while at the same time establishing linkage between academia and industry. This partnership aims to stimulate creativity, foster innovation, and prepare recently qualified engineering graduates to enter the job market with confidence and efficiency.
The signing ceremony was held at the University of Mauritius in the presence of Vice Chancellor Professor Sanjeev Sobhee and several leaders of the Groupe Vivo Energy: Stan Mittelman, CEO; Nimit Shah, Chief Financial Officer; Peyami Oven, EVP Maghreb & Indian Ocean; Rita Bouwer, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, and Fouad Khfifi, Managing Director de Vivo Energy Mauritius.
Vivo Energy Mauritius will sponsor the first prize conferred to the engineering student to recognize the future laureate’s academic excellence and commitment, while at the same time supporting first-year students in the Engineering faculty. The company’s executives and experts in specialised disciplines will host sessions pertaining to the sharing of experience in a bid to attune students to job market requirements. Moreover, projects linked to collaborative research will also be launched to help support the development of innovative ideas implemented in the industry.
The joint initiative between Vivo Energy Mauritius and UoM aims to support the emergence of a new generation of professionals in the energy sector. According to Vivo Energy, this collaboration is set in an effort to brace for a bigger partnership with the best African universities to help foster the professional integration of young graduates to suit the sector’s skill needs.
« Our long-term success is not limited by fuels, infrastructure, or brand name but rather by the ability to harness talent, support innovation, and make meaningful contributions to the communities in which we operate. Reason why such partnerships are fundamentally important to us, » commented CEO at Vivo Energy, Stan Mittelman.
Managing Director at Vivo Energy Mauritius, Fouad Khfifi, added, « This partnership is based on common engagement: supporting the next generation of engineers, fostering academic excellence, and strengthening the synergy between the industry and academia. We remain convinced that the future of a prosperous economy relies on the talent, skills, and ambition of its youth, which is our responsibility as industry players to contribute actively to its development. »
Vice Chancellor at UoM Professor Sanjeev Sobhee affirms, « This partnership with Vivo Energy Mauritius poses as a stepping stone ahead for the aspiring engineering students, and by strengthening the link between the university and job market, we are offering students concrete opportunities to better prepare for the realities of the job market. »
