Avinash Meetoo

Let's build a Smart Mauritius

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How to (really) learn

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Yesterday, I watched an intriguing video on YouTube called How I’d Learn Music Theory (If I Had To Start Over) and, interestingly, it’s not really about music theory only but is about how to learn in general. One of the key recommendations was to read articles from research journals and, because the video was about music theory, a peer-reviewed journal called Music Theory Online was mentioned.

In it, I found this interesting research paper, which is actually an “essay”, by Jeremy W. Smith from the School of Music at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, USA. It is about how modern music uses pitch slides (glissandos), crescendos, fade ins, accelerandos, and filter sweeps (which the author calls continuous processes) to create excitement and tension, compared to more traditional notes, melodies and harmonies (which are discrete). Clearly, the author had a lot of fun and is surely a fan of EDM like me.

Underlying everything in the video is the fact that, instead of learning theory for the sake of theory, one should learn enough theory in order to get interesting things done and then learn more of the theory to get more interesting things done, etc., etc. And connect things which were previously disconnected.

By coincidence, I also read The Age of the Essay by Paul Graham yesterday, and he says: “Study lots of different things, because some of the most interesting surprises are unexpected connections between different fields. For example, jam, bacon, pickles, and cheese, which are among the most pleasing of foods, were all originally intended as methods of preservation. And so were books and paintings.”

I fully agree with these sentiments.

Starting as Head of Experimentation Accelerator Labs at UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles

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When I was a kid, I was a computer geek and, at university, I found it natural to study Computer Science (or, more precisely, Informatics). Since returning to Mauritius in 1998, I have worked in many institutions and organisations and I have always tried to put my following mantra into practice:

“It’s not about hardware or software. It’s about people.”

For me, empowering people and unleashing them to fight against problems affecting fellow citizens is the only reasonable way forward…

This is why I am very happy to announce that I am now the Head of Experimentation at the Accelerator Lab of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mauritius & Seychelles office. As part of a network operating in 116 countries, the Mauritius & Seychelles Accelerator Lab will contribute to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030:

  1. No Poverty,
  2. Zero Hunger,
  3. Good Health and Well-being,
  4. Quality Education,
  5. Gender Equality,
  6. Clean Water and Sanitation,
  7. Affordable and Clean Energy,
  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth,
  9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,
  10. Reducing Inequality,
  11. Sustainable Cities and Communities,
  12. Responsible Consumption and Production,
  13. Climate Action,
  14. Life Below Water,
  15. Life On Land,
  16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and
  17. Partnerships for the Goals.

This is going to be tough. But I am confident that, with the Head of Solutions Mapping and the Head of Exploration and other colleagues at UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles, we will achieve big. As Head of Experimentation, I will do my best to create multi-stakeholder solutions to address complex problems using innovation, technology, strategic-thinking and leadership.

Prior to joining UNDP, I was Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation, a board member of the National Computer Board and a one of the governors of the University of Technology, Mauritius. Here are some key moments during my tenure.

A lot of important and interesting things need to happen during the next ten years.

I want to work with all those willing to put in the effort to make the world better.

Horizon 2030, that’s our new motto 🙂

Key moments during my four years as a Senior Adviser

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A few weeks ago, I saw this online and it resonates with me: “The Senior Advisor is tasked with raising dialogue to a strategic level, both internally and externally. They will undoubtedly be an expert in their chosen field.” This is what I loved doing during the four years: raising the dialogue to a strategic level i.e. medium- and long-term. I am less interested in today. I’m much more interested in tomorrow, next year and in ten years.

Since becoming a Senior Adviser in June 2017 at the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation and also a board member of the National Computer Board (NCB) and the University of Technology (UTM), I have contributed, in some way or another, in multiple policies and projects which, I hope, will help transform Mauritius into a better country in the years to come.

Here is a selection of key public-facing moments during those past four years:

I was always focussed on one thing: how to make Mauritians more innovative so as to reach Vision 2030 to transform Mauritius into a smarter country.

Of course, I was never alone. During the past four years, I have been lucky to be able to work with some extraordinary people in Government, in parastatal bodies, in private companies and a number of individuals from the civil society. I would like to thank all of them.

Horizon 2030, that’s my motto 🙂