Dr. The Honourable K. S. Sukon, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, and Research, is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and the Founding Director-General of the Open University of Mauritius (OU). He established OU in July 2012, transforming it into a dynamic, ISO-certified institution. By October 2024, under his strategic leadership, OU had surpassed 13,000 learners, secured its position as Mauritius’s leading university in enrolment, and achieved full financial independence—a remarkable achievement reflecting his unwavering dedication to innovation and excellence in higher education.
Dr Sukon has been the Second Vice-President of the African Council of Distance Education, and as the Chairman of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council, he led the launch of the first Mauritius nano-satellite and signed the agreement for the second one. He was also a member of the Board of the Financial Services Institute Ltd. During his first job at the University of Mauritius [1994-1998], he developed the first local distance education manual in 1996. Then, he moved to the Mauritius Examination Syndicate [1998-2005], where he started marking the first CIE international paper in Mauritius in 1999. He then moved to the Human Resource Development Council [2005-2012], where he developed the first Human Resource Development Plan for Mauritius. His past leadership roles include chairing the Mauritius College of the Air and the Mauritius Museums Council, with esteemed tenures at the level of the Senate of the University of Mauritius and the Academic Council of the University of Technology Mauritius. Additionally, he is an honorary affiliate at Imperial College London. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Learning for Development and the Symbiosis International Research Journal on Online & Distance Learning.
His contributions to academia extend internationally to consulting for prominent organisations such as ADEA, UNESCO, ILO, and UNDP. He has prepared The Peer Review Report on educational reforms in Mauritius, 2000-2005; UNESCO National Education Support Strategy (UNESS) for Mauritius in 2010; and the National Employment Policy for Mauritius in 2011. Dr Sukon's scholarly pursuits led to the development of a new mathematical model called the Two-parameter Alternative Group Explicit Method. He has also coined the term "blearning" to signify the cohesive nature of blended learning. His acclaimed 'Practical Teaching and Blearning Model' is published in the impact factor journal named 'Ubiquitous Learning: An International Journal'.
Dr Priscilla MUTHOORA THAKOOR, Governor
Dr Priscilla Muthoora Thakoor was appointed Governor of the Bank of Mauritius for a three-year term effective as from the 29th of September 2025.
Governor Muthoora Thakoor brings substantial expertise in policy diagnostics and the development of macroeconomic frameworks aimed at supporting economic and financial stability.
Dr Muthoora Thakoor’s association with the Bank of Mauritius began in 2002, when she joined the Bank as a Research officer.
She was accepted into the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) prestigious Economist Program in 2009—the first Mauritian to do so. With over 16 years of service at the IMF, she has contributed to shaping policy responses to some of the most pressing economic challenges facing the international community.
During her time at the IMF, Dr Muthoora Thakoor was part of the core team responsible for the organisation’s flagship Fiscal Monitor. She contributed to a range of analytical and policy-oriented work on fiscal issues. Dr Muthoora Thakoor’s research has been published in peer-reviewed economic journals. Her analytical expertise includes areas such as fiscal policy and sustainability and inclusive growth.
Beyond research and analysis, Dr Muthoora Thakoor has played an active role in capacity building and technical assistance missions, collaborating extensively with policymakers from developing and emerging economies. She served as Resident Advisor on Macroeconomic and Financial Policies at the Africa Training Institute of the IMF.
A recipient of the State of Mauritius Scholarship as a Laureate in Economics, Governor Muthoora Thakoor holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, Australia. She also holds a Master degree and a DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford.
