Mr Wayne Nourrice studied MSc Quantitative Financial Economics and graduated in 2017. He is currently working as an Economist in the Research and Statistics Division at the Central Bank of Seychelles. He sat down for an interview with Dr Bahar Ghezelayagh on 26th March 2023.
Hi Nourrice. Thank you very much for your time. Could you tell us about your background before you joined UEA?
Before joining UEA I had my A-level certification in Business Studies, Computing and Geography, and a BA in Economic and Social Studies majoring in Economics from the University of Manchester. I was working at the Central Bank of Seychelles as a Financial and Risk Analyst in the Financial Markets Division, and I went on study leave for the duration of my time at UEA.
What have you been up to since graduating?
I went back to work within the same division, and shortly after my return I got promoted to the Senior Financial Risk Analyst. Since October 2021, I have been working as an Economist in the Research and Statistics Division, specifically in the Policy and Research section.
My work in the Financial Markets division was related to monetary policy and foreign exchange operations in Seychelles. It involved ensuring monetary policy objectives are met by analysing financial market variables, assessing risks, and interacting with key stakeholders. I used a lot of microeconomic concepts by using high-frequency data. My current role as an Economist within the Policy and Research section is more macro-oriented. I am now involved with monetary policy formulation by assessing price dynamics, the balance of payments, and forecasting economic variables. Currently, my principal area of research is on exchange rate fundamentals, which is exciting as we rely a lot on imports in Seychelles.
Could you share with us your experience studying at UEA? Why did you choose UEA?
Studying at a university with a high student satisfaction rate was crucial for me, and I was telling my colleagues about UEA and its high rankings even before I arrived in Norwich. The very first activity we did in the School of Economics was to meet other students and lecturers through a small cocktail, and I knew from that point that there would be very close interactions between staff and students. I appreciated this, and this culture made my experience better. As a result, I was more comfortable approaching my lecturers to ask questions throughout my studies.
The campus was very beautiful and green. I wanted to be somewhere where I could concentrate on my studies, and not be in the middle of a crowded city centre.
The courses were well designed and the degree I chose was well suited to what I needed. I wanted a good balance between theory and the application of economics to the real world, specifically in financial economics.
What are the skills you learned that you now use in your work?
I deal with large data sets, and I remember doing that a lot in the course within workshops and as part of my assessments. I use a lot of what I learned.
The coursework and different types of assessments at UEA helped. When writing a report for the senior management team, I keep the same standards the professors taught. The university made it clear what was expected from students. It meant that I could clearly understand the academic standards, which I took with me to apply to my job.
Studying economics also honed my ability to think critically. Recent events such as COVID-19 and the war between Russia and Ukraine have challenged us at the Central Bank of Seychelles, requiring us to think critically about how these situations affect businesses and households and what policies would be appropriate.
What are you most proud of in your professional work?
I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to be attached to some technical assistance missions of the International Monetary Policy Fund in some neighbouring countries to Seychelles. I was part of a team helping the Central Bank of Botswana and the Central Bank of Mauritius with financial market analysis and liquidity forecasting. I was also part of a team delivering Technical Assistance at the Central Bank of Madagascar. It is great that the Central Banks of neighbouring countries connect and share their research and practices. The work was challenging, but I am very proud of my contributions, and they were all great experiences.
Do you have any advice for students who are looking to study at UEA?
There is plenty to think about in terms of where and what to study. My advice is to think of a comfortable accommodation while considering your budget. Make friends and learn from other people from different countries. Engage as much as possible with the professors and ask as many questions as you can! Research the climate! Luckily, Norwich was very sunny, and the winter wasn’t very cold.
More importantly, follow your passion and dreams.
Nourrice has been incredibly supportive in guiding an Undergraduate student who will be joining the School of Economics in September 2023 to secure a summer internship at the Central Bank of Seychelles. At ECO, we cherish the meaningful connections formed between alumni and students, and we express our appreciation to Nourrice for his assistance. As a student at the School of Economics, you not only acquire knowledge but also cultivate lifelong relationships within a vibrant global community.