PHILIPSBURG:--- The University of St. Martin (USM), University of Curaçao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez (UoC), the University of Aruba (UA) and the Pedagogical Institution Aruba (IPA) signed an framework agreement for cooperation of the universities in the Dutch Caribbean known as the UniCarib Agreement.
According to the framework agreement, parties will cooperate to strengthen education and research in the broadest possible meaning, this mutual cooperation will bring them closer to realizing this goal.
The three universities and the pedagogical institute will amongst others explore possibilities to offer new educational programs, carry out academic exchanges and start collaborative research programs. In addition, parties will seek substantial cooperation in high-level personnel and student training, transformation of scientific and technological achievements regarding IT, E-learning and library functionalities. Each form of specific cooperation will be laid down in a service level agreement that will elaborate on the details. The agreement is set for a period of two years which intentionally will automatically be renewed after evaluation.
For partners within UniCarib, Maestro Kompas will be the first project of desired mutual cooperation. Maestro Kompas is a project initiated and monitored by the Dutch Ministry of Education (OCW), it has the assignment to ensure the structural development and maintenance of the quality of the educational level in the Dutch Caribbean. This development program entails all kinds of educational activities, ranging from (further) professionalizing of teachers in the region, as to explore on new modes for offering educational programs. Among other things all parties involved within UniCarib have primarily expressed their intention to establish, in cooperation with Maestro Kompas, a digital platform which will enable students in the Dutch Caribbean to follow an accredited bachelor teacher program in all kinds of different subjects (math, biology, languages and more). Programs will be offered in both Dutch and English. Salient detail of this project is that the bachelor teaching programs will be offered in a 'blended way', which will make it possible that students can study in the region and do not have to leave their island. Each partner within UniCarib will take the responsibility for the execution of (one or more) program(s).
