During his visit to give the Keynote address for the St Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 35th Anniversary Gala event last week, a courtesy meeting was organized by Chamber Executive Director, Mr. Claret Connor, between Professor Croes and the Dean of the University Francio Guadeloupe. The Chamber Director wanted to give USM the opportunity to explore possible areas of collaboration for both institutions.
The USM Dean indicated that it was a delight exchanging views with Dr Croes and learning from his expertise. Division Heads of USM, Mrs. Marjan de Visser-Lemstra and Mr. Erwin Wolthuis, were also present at the meeting.
USM Dean Dr Guadeloupe further elucidated in the press release that as a developing university in a middle income country, whose sole industry is tourism, USM would very much appreciate exploring possibilities to establish an articulation agreement between USM and the Rosen College School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. The opportunity would entail concretely creating the possibility for cohorts of our Hospitality program students to enroll and participate in non-degree courses at UCF. These credits would then be accepted at USM and would be used towards the USM degree. Within the agreement UCF will seek to secure internship opportunities for the Hospitality Cohorts at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. USM Dean Guadeloupe felt confident that through the committed and close cooperation of the Chamber Executive Director, Mr. Claret Connor, these plans will work, and contended that such an articulation can materialize. This would build upon am existing articulation with Johnson & Wales University and Monroe College. The Division Head of the Business and Hospitality program, Mr. Erwin Wolthuis, was appointed as the liaison with a counterpart at Rosen College to work out the details.
