The University of St. Martin (USM) collaborated with the Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) to offer its Middle Management employees a set of academic courses with the objective to update their skills in Business Administration, and offer them the opportunity to gain a USM’s Associate of Arts degree.
The program for the WIB employees, which consisted of the components, Business and Marketing, Business Communication, Management and Human Resource Management, Accounting and Finance, was held at the training facility of the bank. The USM instructors of the Hospitality and Business Divisions, Dr. Natasha Gittens and Mr. Erwin Wolthuis, led the courses.
The successful participants were awarded 12 university credits. With these credits those WIB employees who choose to continue their studies at USM will have a head start in obtaining their Associates of Arts Degree.
The certificate presentation ceremony was held on Friday February 27, and was attended by the following dignitaries, MP. Maurice Lake, MP. Silveria Jacobs, MP Corneluis DeWeever and MP. Tamara Leonard.
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Mrs. Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications, Mr. Claret Connor addressed the participants. Both lauded their achievements and encouraged the participants to continue in their quest in obtaining an academic degree. USM and WIB were also commended for their joint initiative.
Managing Director of WIB, Mr. Derek Downes, who tasked Mrs. Sherry-Anne Mc Namara –Casey of the WIB Human Resource department to initiate a project geared towards the academics upgrading of the employees, stated that he was satisfied with the results and extremely proud of his staff.
USM will be seeking to continue its collaboration with the WIB and other business on the island as it takes its task of improving educational resources of St. Maarten seriously.
