AdeKUS-IUC PARTNER PROGRAMME

Institutional University Cooperation (Phase 1)

You are on the web-site of a unique cooperation between the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) and Flemish universities. This cooperation, also called IUC, Institutional University Cooperation is part of the VLIR-UOS programme. It covers a period of 10 years and more. Six projects are incorporated within the partner programme.

 

Welcome by Suriname and Flemish coordinator

Suriname, like many other countries, is facing numerous challenges in higher education. Adequate management and financing, organization of education (admission to study programs, continuous education, scholarships, etc.), quality assessment of education and research (lecturers training, accreditation, laboratory facilities, etc.) and establishing national and international partnerships are some examples of these challenges. Globally, society is increasingly becoming knowledge-dependent. As a result, higher education and research form an integral part of cultural and socio-economic development of individuals, communities, and nations. Developing countries, such as Suriname, need the presence of higher education and research institutes for delivering substantially well-trained and educated intellectuals for sustainable development and to reduce the gap compared to the developed countries.

VLIR-UOS, as part of the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), stimulates the international cooperation between the five university associations in Flanders, Belgium and their partner universities in the South. Proposals are made based on the open calls from VLIR-UOS. The Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) with its partner programmes is one of the possible ways of working together. The initiatives for this partner programme started in May 2005. In March 2006, AdeKUS was selected as an IUC pre-partner university together with five other universities. A Pre-Partner Programme framing a range of preparatory activities and covering the period from 1 April 2006 until 31 March 2008 was agreed. During this period the needs were identified by AdeKUS and matched to the expertise available in Flemish universities and university colleges. A match making mission to the Flemish institutions was organized in March 2007 and a Flemish delegation visited AdeKUS in June 2007 during the formulation mission. The net result of all this has lead to the Partner Programme, which was approved by VLIR-UOS on 21 December 2007. Within this Partner Programme, AdeKUS has started its activities on 1 April 2008.

In 2008 AdeKUS celebrated its 40th anniversary. The implementation of the VLIR-UOS Partner Programme will assist the university to transit from a primarily BSc-oriented education university to an accredited MSc-oriented research and education university.

As such, the IUC Partner Programme enables AdeKUS to confidently look towards the future. AdeKUS greatly appreciates the effort provided by many people and institutions in realizing the ambitious goals put forward in the strategic plans of AdeKUS and the different faculties and institutions.

The financial support by the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGDC) and the input from VLIR-UOS are much appreciated, as well as the timeless effort of a large number of academics together with the supporting staff is highly appreciated. This appreciation is directed both towards the Flemish and the Suriname side. For the latter, the local stakeholders played a crucial role in putting the Partner Programme together and will certainly carry on supporting it. Finally, it goes without saying, that all project leaders had a crucial role in defining their project and will remain the true leaders in the strict sense of the word, namely to lead their teams and the entire AdeKUS community to higher goals.

Sharing Minds, Changing Lives

Drs. Allan Li Fo Sjoe,

Acting President of Board of the University,

Local Coordinator

 

Prof. André Vervoort, K.U.Leuven

Flemish Coordinator