A three man delegation from EPI (Intermediate Professional Education) Aruba have concluded a very successful three day meeting and discussion session with the Board and management of NIPA. The delegation consisted of Mr. Ryan Maduro , Dean of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Irayka Yanez, Director of Education and Mr. Andres Geerman , Dean of Academic Affairs for Hospitality and Tourisms Affairs. The discussions with NIPA centered of the Innovations and 2020 plans of EPI as well as discussions regarding common areas for collaboration and cooperation that could materialized in a living document and articulation agreement. Common areas for cooperation and collaboration were; the sharing of expertise, technical support to NIPA in the form of curriculum development , renovation and innovation, lifelong learning and adult education courses, best practices and areas for mutual development and opportunities for third party partnerships. The visit was concluded with a debriefing between the visiting EPI delegation, the school management and the school board as well as an evaluation and future planning session. Students of the Culinary Arts department prepared and served an impressive and tasty three course dinner for which the visiting delegation and invited guests that included Minister of Education, Culture , Youth and Sports, Minister Silveria Jacobs also gave raving reviews. At the end of the evening Minister Jacobs presented a letter to the delegation to take back to their Minister of Education outlining the willingness to strengthen ties and expand the current relationship between the countries as well as an outline of the Sint Maarten’s future willingness to cooperate with Aruba in the area of Education. The team from EPI and an advisory team from NIPA will continue their discussions and seek to finalize an Articulation Agreement between the two institutions in the very near future.”