Education and deans

Working together on equality of opportunity and student success

Do you work in education on one of the islands or in the Netherlands? Are you a dean, lecturer, policymaker or administrator and involved in the supervision of Caribbean students?

The Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) is your partner in the Kingdom-wide cooperation on equal opportunities and student success. Together, we strengthen the conditions for a smooth transition to further education in MBO/SBO, HBO and WO and a sustainable connection to the labor market and society.

SEA connects educational institutions, governments and partners within the Kingdom. We support not only students, but also professionals who make a difference in their development every day.

Preparation and study choice

Do you live in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and are you deciding which program to pursue in vocational education (MBO), higher professional education (HBO), or university education (WO)? Or do you have one or more children who are about to make this decision? You can find more information here. You can also explore the range of programs available in the Kingdom.
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Study Choice Program

Every year in November, educational institutions in the Netherlands, together with DUO, organize workshops, information sessions and activities on the islands in which the focus is on discovering which further education suits the interests and talents of your students.
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Study trip to the Netherlands

Are you planning a study trip to the Netherlands with students or as a team of teachers? The partners from the SEA network are happy to help you further in developing a tailormade program.


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Pre-Departure Program

Have your students decided to study in the Netherlands? This program offers tailormade workshops and guidance before they leave for the Netherlands so they will be well prepared for their study and life in a new study environment.
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Caribbean Foundation Year (CAFY)

Are your students not sure yet about their choice of study after secondary education, or do they wish to enroll in a different course after a secondary or higher vocational study (‘MBO’ or ‘HBO’) or university (‘WO’)? The Caribbean Foundation Year (CAFY) will guide you to discover in 10 to 12 months what suits them, while they work on their personal development, study skills and confidence for further education, both in the region and internationally.
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Kingdom Scholarship

The Kingdom Scholarship is a financial contribution for students from Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten and the Netherlands who want to do an internship or study exchange in another part of the Kingdom.
The scholarship supports among others travel and accommodation expenses and is awarded by lottery per semester.

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SEA Student Communities in the Netherlands

Strong social networks verifiably contribute to student success and well-being. In the Netherlands, several regions have a Caribbean student community. The communities provide connection, recognition and a sense of home.

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Our strategic collaboration and knowledge sharing programs:

In addition to student-oriented programs, SEA works at a strategic level to structurally strengthen education and progression.

Caribbean Network of Deans

A successful transition to further education starts with strong guidance at school. Therefore, SEA is facilitating a kingdom-wide network of deans in which deans and study career counselors from the islands meet, share knowledge and coordinate with each other.

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Strengthening education and the labor market

Together, we bring education and the labor market closer together, so programs are better aligned with the regional and Kingdom-wide labor market.

Alumni network

We are building a strong alumni network. With data and joint monitoring, we gain insight into progression, dropout, and student success. This knowledge helps institutions and policymakers to implement targeted improvements.

Braindrain en braingain

SEA is committed to retaining and regaining talent for the islands. We are working on sustainable perspectives within the Kingdom.

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