DEN HAAG – Around 300 Caribbean students will receive additional guidance this year as they prepare for and begin their studies in the Netherlands. The support is being rolled out through new programs developed by the Strategic Education Alliance (SEA).
SEA has introduced a new preparatory program for students from the Windward Islands in collaboration with the University of St. Martin. Similar preparatory initiatives were already in place for students from the Leeward Islands through universities in Aruba and Curaçao. The programs are designed to better equip students academically and socially for the transition to higher education abroad.
In addition, SEA worked with Dutch universities of applied sciences to develop a dedicated departure program for students heading to the Netherlands. This program focuses on practical preparation, expectations of the Dutch education system, and challenges commonly faced by Caribbean students during their first year of study.
Beyond student support, SEA has also been active in policy development and research. The organization further expanded the Kingdom Scholarship and conducted research into the relationship between education systems and labor markets on the islands. The findings were discussed with local partners to improve alignment between education and employment opportunities.
SEA also established a Caribbean Student Council together with Nuffic. The council aims to involve students more directly in policy discussions and to strengthen cooperation between deans and educational institutions across the Kingdom.
The SEA program team was led by Nicole Spellen, who, together with advisory committee co-chair Francis de Lanoy, produced several reports. Earlier this year, SEA published an advisory report on improving study guidance, followed by a report focused on retaining talent within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
According to SEA, the combined initiatives are intended to reduce dropout rates, strengthen student success, and ensure that Caribbean students are better supported throughout their educational journey in the Netherlands.