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Thursday 11 april 2019

The University of Aruba hosted the International Academic Island

States/Island Territories Conference

ORANJESTAD ― The first planning committee com-
“International Conference prises scholars from several
on Small Island States and academic institutions in-
Subnational Island Jurisdic- cluding the University of the
tions” was hosted March West Indies, Vrije Universit-
26-29, 2019 by the Univer- eit Amsterdam, University
sity of Aruba, in collabo- of Malta, Leiden University,
ration with the Centre of and the University of the
Excellence for the Sustain- West of England.
able Development of Small Jim Randall noted that this
Island Developing States was a wonderful opportuni-
(COE) and the UNESCO ty to showcase the intellec-
Chair in Island Studies and tual capacity and hospital-
Sustainability, which is ity of the University of Aruba
shared between the Uni- and the island in general.
versity of Prince Edward Is- “Several first-time interna-
land (UPEI) in Canada and tional delegates said to me
the University of Malta. that this will not be the first
time they plan on visiting
The theme of the confer- Aruba,” he said.
ence was “Island States/ Welcome with a confer- Croes, Prime Minister of receive the attendance of
Island Territories: Sharing ence dinner at the Old Aruba & Minister of General the Governor of Aruba. The Planning Committee
Stories of Island Life, Gov- Cunucu House Restaurant Affairs, Integrity, Energy, In- The conference’s interna- is grateful for the contribu-
ernance and Global En- and a field trip to Aruba’s novation, & Government tional planning commit- tions made by the spon-
gagement.” The confer- San Nicolas district where Organization, as well as the tee is chaired by UNESCO sors to this event. These
ence appealed to schol- they also visited the Indus- Honourable Leona Romeo- co-chair, Dr. Jim Randall include The Dutch Ministry
ars, policy-makers, NGO trial Museum to get to know Marlin, Prime Minister of Sint (UPEI). Local co-hosts in- of Interior Affairs and King-
representatives, students about Aruba’s island his- Maarten & Minister of Gen- cluded Deborah Alexan- dom Relations, Guardian
and members of the gen- tory. eral Affairs, graced us with der from the Centre for Group Fatum,University of
eral public who networked Additionally, we are very their insights. Lifelong Learning at Univer- the West of England, Aruba
and shared knowledge on proud to have had two The community enjoyed a sity of Aruba, Glenn Thodé, Tourism Authority, Think to
Sustainable Development female Heads of Govern- free public lecture by Dr. Rector of the University of Do Institute, Smith & Dorlas
on islands. In total the con- ment as keynote speakers Godfrey Baldacchino or- Aruba, Patrick Arens, Busi- , Aruba Aloe
ference had approximate- addressing integrity in gov- ganized alongside the con- ness Director of the Uni-
ly 100 participants. Several ernance and the resilience ference on the evening of versity of Aruba, and Arno For more information, con-
geographic regions were of islands; both the Hon- March 28th, whereby the Boersma and Francielle tact islands.conferencea-
represented, including the ourable Evelyna C. Wever- University was honoured to Laclé from the COE. The ruba@ua.aw.q
Caribbean, Pacific and Af-
rica, Indian Ocean, Medi-
terranean and South China
Sea (AIMS), Australasia and
the North Atlantic. We had
18 local conference pre-
senters, with a multi-disci-
plinary participation, which
included local lecturers
from three University of Aru-
ba faculties: The Faculty for
Accounting, Finance and
Marketing of the University
of Aruba (FEF), the Faculty
of Arts and Science (FAS)
and The Faculty of Hospital-
ity & Tourism Management
Studies (FHTMS). The con-
ference also awarded 6
international Student Travel
Scholarships and 20 local
University of Aruba students
joined the sessions as part
of their curriculum.

The international partici-
pants enjoyed an Aruban