About the University of Aruba

Vision Statement

In the years to come the University of Aruba envisions a substantial improvement of its contribution to the national development of Aruba and of the quality of its programs, by strengthening the relevance of the programs to local demands for training needs of higher education level. In addition, the UA responds to a growing local demand for higher education and will custom design special programs for diverse target groups. Finally, the UA will prepare and implement research and service programs.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the UA is:

• to offer outstanding university programs and courses that satisfy local and regional labor market needs in the areas related to business administration, finance, hospitality industry and law
• to provide a continuous positive learning environment by uniting bright faculty members with motivated students striving for excellence
• to become a leading independent research center serving public and private sectors, both local and regional
• to encourage the enhancement of intellectual skills needed in a rapidly changing society by creating an infrastructure for education as a continuous process
• to serve the local community by offering a wide range of lectures, debates and short courses for a general audience

Regulation

The University of Aruba is regulated by the Act on the University of Aruba (Landsverordening Universiteit van Aruba (LUA). This Act regulates all the programs offered by the UA.

Faculties

At present the University of Aruba consists of three faculties:

The Faculty of Law (FdR)

This faculty provides academic education and training for the master degree examination in Aruba Law. Since the establishment of the faculty more than 100 students, of which many combined their studies with a job, achieved their master title in Aruba Law. A great number of these graduates have found employment in Aruba. A small number of them pursue a further specialization further in Holland.

The Faculty for Financial and Economic Studies (FEF):

established in 1993, can be compared with the Dutch HEAO/BE course. This faculty offers a Bachelor in Business Administration and started in 2004 a Bachelor in Marketing, both preparing the students for the bachelor degree examination.  outdated

The Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies (FHTMS):

The FHTMS started in August 2005 with a 2-year Bachelor Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), which builds on the associate degree program and which has been established in cooperation with the UCF (University of Central Florida). In 2006, a 3-year Bachelor International Tourism Management is added as a new option for students. Soon the faculty will also start a master course.

In addition The UA has planned, the start of a fourth faculty, the Faculty of Science and Arts (FAS), which will offer programs in the fields of Organization and Management;  Healthcare; Social studies; Education and Language and Culture.

Other educational activities

Since 2005, the Center for Lifelong Learning of the University of Aruba delivers the following educational services:

1. Post Academic Education (PAO)-activities. Up till now these activities were mainly focused on the target group of lawyers.
2. Master courses, on special request of the Directorates and government departments. In 2006 a Master Social Work will start on request of the Department of Social Affairs. 
3. Special courses, also at the request of the Directorates and government departments. In 2005 a course Public Finances started on request of the Department of Finance and in 2006 a course Legislation will start on request of the Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs. 

Students

At this moment there are approximately 300 students registered at the three aforementioned faculties. Since the establishment of the Law faculty until August 2005, approximately 115 students graduated, while since the establishment of the FEF more than 100 students graduated. With the start of the Faculty of Science and Arts in 2007 an increase in the amount of students is expected. In addition, since 2005 there are yearly approximately 300 students / course-attendants who participated in the non-faculty education programs.

Research

In 2005, the University conducted a research project, Assessment of needs in Aruba, in collaboration with the Central Bureau of Statistics.

In January 2006, a research project Social context of “health in Aruba” was started and within the FHTMS several research projects are in process.

On the short term there will also be a feasibility research to investigate the needs and wishes in the Aruban community for higher education in Aruba. Based on the outcome of this investigation there will be decided which studies will be accessible in the soon to open new fourth faculty.

Infrastructure and facilities

The UA has seating capacity of 417 seats. Most classrooms are equipped with multi-media facilities (beamer, laptop and internet-connection). In addition, there are two computer rooms with a total of 30 computers and Wi-Fi connection is provided to all registered students and staff-members of the UA on the entire UA-premises. There is also a well-equipped Library with connection to on-line libraries and a reading- and study room. Finally, the UA provides a canteen offering breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Strategic focus in the next years

In the future, the University of Aruba will continue to focus on 6 developments:

• Quality improvement of the programs: improvement of the curriculum structures and contents and strengthening of both an international orientation of the study programs and a stronger contextualization of the programs (to guarantee relevance for Aruban contexts.
• Strengthening of research in the University. A Center for Research will soon be established with a contextualized research program, reflecting societal priorities. The curriculum will increasingly reflect the interconnectedness of research and education.
• Orientation on the Student: promotion of a supportive learning environment for students, the increase of the efficiency and transparency of student administration systems, the offering of more choices for the students and the creation of new structures for student support and development through a Bureau for Student Care & Support.
• Expansion of the regular higher education programs and possibilities of study. The start of a fourth faculty is planned within two years and the existing faculties will expand their offering to include more options of higher education in Aruba.
• Strengthening of service to the society. The UA will respond to the lifelong-learning trend and will offer also possibilities for post-doctorate study in Aruba. To organize and plan the continuous education programs a Center for Continuous Learning will be created. The UA-programs will increasingly focus on service to the society and several general university centers will be created to offer service to the society on specific areas.
• Regional and international cooperation. Finally, the future development of the UA will focus on strengthening the regional and international cooperation with universities and other educational and research centers, including the setting up of an international school for hospitality and tourism management.