PHILIPSBURG--University of St. Martin (USM) and the Observatoire of St. Maarten/St Martin on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to, amongst other things, allow more French St. Martin students to pursue tertiary studies at the Dutch-side institution.
USM President Dr. Francio Guadeloupe and Observatoire President Dr. Louis Jeffry signed the agreement in the presence of representatives of USM, the Observatorire and other persons.
Guadeloupe said students attending the Lycee in French St Martin, as well as students who did not complete school can attend USM under the MOU.
According to the MOU, the Observatoire supported by USM “will strive to ensure that public campaigns are launched to encourage the French administration, high school students and business employees to take part in the language and acculturation programme at USM.”
The Observatoire, supported by USM, will also jointly seek to encourage businesses in French St. Martin to provide scholarship and internships for “young men and women” desirous of pursuing a degree at USM. This can be either a pre-USM diploma or one of the Associate degrees.
Another aspect of the MOU is that the Observatoire will provide expertise out of its rank and file to stimulate the “cultivation of the arts of conviviality” among participants of its language and acculturation programme, and will also encourage through guest lecturer circuits and workshops USM students “to ground their quest for academic excellence in a sound ethics.”
USM will also offer its language lab and administration, while the Observatoire will hire bi-lingual staff with knowledge of the historical cultural diversity of the island as it relates to the MOU.
USM has agreed to provide representation, in the form of its President/Dean of Academics (Guadeloupe) and other qualified staff, for an awareness campaign of the Observatoire as it relates to the MOU.
USM said it entered into the agreement in line with its mission to offer quality career and academic education that will provide students with “a solid foundation” to enter the field of their chosen profession or to further academic studies.
“The University is also committed to the continuous development of programmes that will serve the quality of life of the people residing on St. Maarten and St. Martin, the wider Caribbean basin, the Americas and by extension the world,” the MOU stated.
The Observatoire entered into the agreement as it is consistent with its mission to promote cooperation and cross-border projects in any form, organise continuing and post-graduate education and training, and develop a social and a socially responsible economy in St. Martin.
Jeffry told reporters that USM and the Observatoire have been working together for a year already and the MOU has further cemented their relationship.
Chairperson of the USM Board Valerie Gitterson-Pantophlet described the MOU as a “dream come through.”
Daniella Jeffry said this has been her “dream” for some 30 years. She elaborated on her strides made in education as it relates to the English language in French St. Martin.
French St. Martin official Alex Richards also spoke at the event.
