Master’s in Governance and Leadership

A two-year multi-disciplinary (part-time) master’s program for public and private sector professionals.

Subject

In the Dutch Caribbean, organizations with a public mandate face increasing pressure to be effective and efficient, and to be responsive and accountable to citizens. The grand challenges of today, such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responding to pandemics, underline the need for knowledgeable, skilled, and innovative government administrators, policymakers, and managers. They must deal with new and uncertain situations for which no routines exist. This calls for new forms of cooperation between government organizations and between government, the private sector, civil society organizations, and citizens. Competent governance and leadership are core to maintaining and enhancing the quality of an inclusive and sustainable society.

In Aruba and the other islands of the Dutch Caribbean, there is a broadly articulated and urgent need for capacity building at an advanced university level in the domains, and intersections, of governance, leadership, organizational sciences, management studies, and business administration, all in the context of a small island developing state.

Focus

Central to this program is the insight that each situation calls for a creative, contextual response, not a ready-made solution. We offer state-of-the-art knowledge and insights in public and private governance, effective policymaking, public value, leadership, and management. With this, you will be able to analyze and reflect on developments in society and in its organizations and services, and to analyze and reflect on your own (potential) role and performance in addressing societal challenges. You will be encouraged to anticipate future developments, help shape the future, and design innovative governance practices.

This master’s is connected to concrete practice and focuses on the further development of your professional repertoire. Theoretical knowledge, the development of analytical and professional skills, and the practical experience of both participants and lecturers make this program directly valuable for your professional development and for the quality of governance and leadership in the Dutch Caribbean.

Target Group

This master’s program is designed for two main audiences:

Graduates of relevant bachelor’s programs who wish to continue at the university (WO) master’s level, and,
Working professionals with a bachelor’s degree who already operate in governance and management roles with leadership responsibilities. We aim to assemble cohorts from Aruba and the wider Caribbean, bringing together participants from the public sector, private sector, and civil society.

Prospective students who we particularly welcome are:

OGM alumni and similar bachelor graduates.
Alumni of the University of Aruba’s Organization, Governance & Management (OGM) program and graduates from other universities with an equivalent bachelor’s degree in governance/public administration, organizational studies, management, business, or related fields.
UA alumni from other disciplines working in governance roles.
Holders of a bachelor’s degree in another field who are currently working in (public or private) governance, management, or policy functions and wish to deepen their professional practice.
Executive professionals with experience.
Professionals with any bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of relevant experience, demonstrating an academic level of thinking and working, in roles connected to public sector management, public/private governance, and/or leadership.

Program Learning Outcomes

With this program, we aim to enhance your knowledge and insight on an academic master’s level as well as your ability to analyze, reflect, and apply. You will be challenged to test your ideas and opinions against the knowledge and practical experience of others.

After successfully finishing this master’s program, you have:

Knowledge of …

State-of-the-art scientific insights in governance studies and leadership studies;
How specific characteristics of small island development states influence governance and leadership;
Conditions for sustainable (economic and social) development, including respect for fundamental rights;
Research and data analysis methods, as well as strategies for evidence-informed policymaking in the public and private sector.

Skills to …

Assess from different perspectives the tensions public and private organizations have to cope with in relation to developments in society and public administration;
Develop a future-oriented perspective on conceivable and sustainable strategies and leadership for realizing the aims of public and private organizations;
Design, execute, and report independently on your own scientific research.

Attitudes for …

Being self-reflective on one’s own leadership style and interpersonal skills;
Appreciating diversity in cultural and political perceptions, opinions, and constructive dialogues;
Appreciating ethical review and integrity in governance and leadership.
In each course, we combine a variety of working methods to stimulate an active and interactive learning experience in which knowledge sharing by teachers and students, discussions, case analysis, the application of knowledge in concrete cases, and skills training are equally important.

Program Structure & Curriculum Overview

The Master in Governance & Leadership (MGL) is a 60 EC, two-year (part-time) program comprising ten courses plus a final thesis project: eight courses in Year 1, then two courses plus thesis in Year 2.

Each year integrates real-life cases from Aruba and the wider Caribbean, including issues brought in by students from their (future) professional environments. Teaching blends conceptual frameworks with applied assignments, advisories, and reflection on practice.

Year 1 – Foundation: Core Concepts & Tools (30 EC)

You build a shared toolkit around the program’s core themes, including e.g., Caribbean Governance (small-island context and public value), Change in Organizations (implementation and adaptive capacity), Integrity (ethics, accountability, and public trust), and Collaborative Leadership (working across government, business, and civil society)

Course 1	SIDS Public and Private Governance in Caribbean Contexts	4.5 EC
Course 2	Integrity in the Public and Private Sector	4.5 EC
Course 3	Managing Change in Organization	4.5 EC
Course 4	Synthesis I	1.5 EC
Course 5	Policy Skills & Complexities in Times of Crisis	4.5 EC
Course 6	Strategic Project & Portfolio Management	4.5 EC
Course 7	Leadership, Collaboration and Professionalism	4.5 EC
Course 8	Synthesis II	1.5 EC

Outcome: Students can diagnose governance challenges in small-island contexts, analyze organizational dynamics, and translate evidence into fit-for-context policy options that are actionable and defensible.

Year 2 – Application: Methods, Data & Thesis (2 courses + thesis – 30 EC)

Focus shifts to analyzing societal issues in relation to governance and designing meaningful solutions, including operational strategies for implementation and evaluation. Two advanced courses deepen applied analysis and design for impact. The thesis project addresses a real governance/leadership problem and delivers a research-informed, practice-ready product (e.g., policy brief, implementation plan, advisory).

Course 9	Data, Society and Governance	5 EC
Course 10	Applied Research Lab	5 EC
Course 11	Research Thesis Project	20 EC

Outcome: Students leave with a cohesive, research-grounded repertoire, able to design, implement, and evaluate solutions, and are ready to contribute in leadership, policy, and management roles in Aruba and across the wider region.

After finishing the pre-master’s program, students will receive a certificate of completion and a grade overview.

Description of Each Course

1. SIDS Public and Private Governance in Caribbean Contexts

Topical developments for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their meaning for public and private governance and leadership in the Caribbean will be the focus here. Issues of governance will be juxtaposed to diverse topics, among others: Institutional Development, Democracies of Scale, Governance and leadership, Strategic Flexibility, New Caribbean Complexities, Economic Vulnerability, and Climate change.

2. Integrity in the Public and Private sector

Students develop a grounded understanding of integrity, accountability, oversight, and transparency. The course builds skills to identify risks and design proportionate safeguards combining ethics, compliance, and culture, to protect integrity in both public institutions and private organizations.

3. Managing Change in Organizations

Designed to cultivate reflective, capable leaders and managers, this course equips students to diagnose, plan, and facilitate change. Students learn to navigate resistance, align stakeholders, and steward transformation as credible change agents within their organizations.

4. Policy Skills and Complexities in Times of Crisis

Focusing on the craft of policymaking and implementation under pressure, this course covers problem framing, option design, and execution in political-administrative contexts. Special attention is given to the role and quality of policy documents such as memos, briefs, white papers, and consultancy reports, and to communicating and negotiating in turbulent conditions.

5. Strategic Project & Portfolio Management

The focus in this course is on strategic and operational capabilities for designing and managing multiple projects in the context of small developing island states, emphasizing the integration of a public value–oriented attitude and innovation-based mindset.

6. Leadership, Collaboration, and Professionalism

How do leaders create public value in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world? Students learn to facilitate collaboration within and across organizations pursuing shared outcomes, applying practical techniques for convening, co-creation, and conflict resolution, while critically reflecting on their own leadership practice and professional ethics.

7. Data, Society, and Governance

This course explores governance in networked, data-driven societies. Students examine data assemblages, algorithms, e-governance, and the intended and unintended effects of platforms, alongside themes such as connectivity, virality, networked interventions, privacy, and data ethics, translating insights into responsible policy tools.

8. Applied Research Lab

Students learn the fundamentals of research methodology for governance and organization studies. Through hands-on design, instrument development, and pilot analysis, they build competence in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, research ethics, and data management, preparing directly for the thesis.

9. Research Thesis Project

Students apply program knowledge and methods to a current governance issue, preferably rooted in the local context, producing a rigorous study and actionable advice. The course combines analysis with a policy plan or intervention design for a real-life setting, culminating in a written thesis and defense.

Teaching Method

The MGL program uses a blended, block-format designed for working professionals. Courses are taken one at a time, each begins and ends before the next starts, so there are no overlapping modules within a semester. Every course runs for six weeks in a fixed rhythm: two Saturdays of class, one Saturday off, two more Saturdays of class, and a final Saturday dedicated to assessment. Teaching is primarily in person at the University of Aruba. When a lecturer is abroad, sessions are delivered live online; otherwise, instruction takes place on campus.

Time	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6
9:00 – 11:00	Class 1	Class 3	Off	Class 5	Class 7	Exams and / or
11:30 – 1:30	Class 2	Class 4	Off	Class 6	Class 8	Results

Why this format?

It maximizes focus and work–study balance, with the “off” Saturday used for reading, teamwork, and applied assignments. Sessions combine short lectures, case work, discussion, and skills practice so you can immediately connect concepts to your professional context.

Language of Instruction

Aruba, and the Caribbean more broadly, is multilingual, and this master’s program respects and leverages that reality. The program is English-taught, reflecting English’s role in international cooperation and in the fields of governance and leadership. At the same time, there is ample room for Papiamento and Dutch.

Teaching language: English (lectures, core materials).
Permitted languages for learning activities: English, Dutch, and/or Papiamento may be used for selected assignments, group work, discussions, and tutoring.
Professional standard: The decisive criterion is that all students and lecturers involved can work at a professional level in the chosen language so that participation, feedback, and assessment remain fair and effective.

This approach maintains international standards while honoring local language developments and practices.

Entry Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Governance, Public Administration, or a closely related field with demonstrated research skills (methods, design, basic statistics, or qualitative analysis).

Pre-master requirement: applicants who do not meet the domain and/or research prerequisites must successfully complete an approved pre-master before admission to the master.

2. TOEFL iBT English language proficiency score of ≥ 90

Exemptions: the English test is waived for applicants who completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree taught in English.

3. Professional experience

Minimum 1 year of relevant, post-bachelor professional experience (3+ years preferred) in a small or medium-sized organization, in a middle-management or higher role with governance/management/leadership responsibilities.

Application and Selection

What to upload with your application?

Diploma(s) and official transcript(s)
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Motivation letter (your fit, goals, and how the program supports your professional pathway)
TOEFL report (only if required)

How the process works

Admission to the MGL begins with a document review in which the University of Aruba verifies eligibility across the degree domain, research readiness, and English proficiency. All applicants then complete a mandatory, structured intake interview, online or on campus, which may include a brief assessment of prior education and professional experience. After the review and interview, the Committee issues a final decision: 1. admission to the Master’s program; 2. conditional admission with a prescribed pre-master to address domain and/or research gaps prior to enrollment; or 3. Rejection. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in Organization, Governance & Management are automatically admitted to the MGL program upon registration and are exempted from the interview process.

The Selection Criteria

Previous education – bachelor’s degree (or higher); relevance to governance/public administration or preparation via a pre-master track.
English language – meets the program’s requirement (e.g., TOEFL iBT ≥ 90) or approved exemption.
Professional experience – relevant work experience from current or prior roles (governance, management, policy, leadership).
Analytical capacity – ability to analyze and reflect on societal change and its implications for organizations and services.
Reflexive attitude – openness to examine one’s own practice and performance.
Bridging theory and practice – the ability to connect concrete cases and experiences to theoretical concepts.

Pre-master Program

Duration: 1 year (2 years if you choose for a longer track) part-time deficiency program
ECTS: 30 EC
Language: English
Class hours: Classes are between 4:30 – 6:30pm

This pre-master’s is for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree and work in governance and management with leadership responsibilities, who applied to the Master’s in Governance & Leadership (MGL) but do not yet meet all entry requirements.

The deficiency program is modular and tailored to each participant. It brings applicants to the required university master’s entry level across three strands:

1. Domain Foundations (15 EC) — public administration, governance, organization, and management studies (core concepts, frameworks, and vocabulary). Students who don’t have an academic background in the OGM domain are to follow:

• Governance, Policy & Organization (BA 1, Semester 1, 5 ECT)

• Constitutional & Administrative Law (BA 2, Semester 2, 5 ECT)

• Public Management (BA 3, Semester 2, 5 ECT)

2. Academic English (5 EC)— reading, writing, and presenting at an academic/professional level (argumentation, referencing, concise style). Students who did not previously follow an English bachelor’s/master’s program or need to acquire additional academic reading & writing skills are to follow:

• Academic Reading & Writing (BA 1, Semester 1, 5 ECT)

3. Social-science Research Skills (10 EC) — research design, qualitative/quantitative basics, ethics, and data use for applied policy questions. Students who do not have the social scientific research acumen and skills are to follow:

• Research Methods in Governance Studies (Semester 1 and 2, 10 EC)

Completion: The specific combination of modules is set per applicant (based on admissions review and interview). Successful completion of the assigned pre-master’s is required before enrollment in the MGL program.

Pre-master Program Tracks

Based on the application review (CV, transcripts) and the mandatory intake interview, applicants are placed in one of the following pre-master tracks to address any gaps in domain knowledge, academic English, and/or research skills. Successful completion of the assigned track is required before enrollment in the MGL.

Track 1: Full pre-master’s program ( 30 EC)

Governance, Policy & Organization (sem 1)
Constitutional & Administrative Law (sem 2)
Public Management (sem 2)
Academic Reading & Writing (sem 1)
Research Perspectives in Governance Studies (sem 1 and 2)

Track 2: Core curriculum pre-master’s program (15 EC)

Governance, Policy & Organization (sem 1)
Constitutional & Administrative Law (sem 2)
Public Management (sem 2)

Track 3: Core curriculum pre-master’s program + Language ( 20 EC)

Governance, Policy & Organization (sem 1)
Constitutional & Administrative Law (sem 2)
Public Management (sem 2)
Academic Reading & Writing (sem 1)

Track 4: Core curriculum pre-master’s program + Research (25 EC)

Governance, Policy & Organization (sem 1)
Constitutional & Administrative Law (sem 2)
Public Management (sem 2)
Research Perspectives in Governance Studies (sem 1 and 2)

Track 5: Research pre-master’s program (10 EC)

Research Perspectives in Governance Studies (sem 1 and 2)

Costs

500 AWG per pre-master course
2.500 AWG for the pre-master program (4 courses or more)

Separate Course(s) Options for Executives

Working executives in public sector management or public/private governance who do not (yet) wish to complete the full MGL degree may enroll in individual master’s courses that match their professional needs or continuing-development goals.

What’s available: the program’s six 4.5 EC courses in year 1 are offered as stand-alone options for university continuing education / lifelong learning.
Who it’s for: professionals with a university bachelor’s degree and relevant governance/management experience.
Places: capacity is limited and depends on the number of enrolled degree students in each course.
Recognition: participants receive a certificate with achieved ECs upon successful completion. If they later enter the MGL, these ECs can be credited subject to current regulations.
Format & language: same teaching format as degree students (block Saturdays; blended); English-taught with scope for Papiamento/Dutch where appropriate.
Assessment & expectations: identical learning outcomes and assessments as for degree students; attendance and preparation are required.

How to apply

Submit a short application (CV, diploma, brief motivation) to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science at fas@ua.aw. Admission is decided case-by-case based on fit and space availability.

Costs

1.500 AWG per 4.5 EC course

Contact

For more information on the application process, please contact:

Thais Franken MSc.
Program Manager MGL
mastergl@ua.aw

For more information on the program, please visit: www.ua.aw