University of Aruba launches the SISSTEM faculty

Aruba, March 2019 – On the 26^thof March, among various members of parliament, academics and representatives from the European Union and United Nations, The Prime Minister of Aruba signed an agreement with the European Union for the funding of a faculty of science at the University of Aruba. The University of Aruba, in collaboration with KU Leuven, launched the SISSTEM faculty: Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The new faculty will offer a bachelor’s and master’s degree in science, a PhD program and a brand-new research institute, starting in September 2019. SISSTEM will provide new opportunities for students wishing to attend a program in science, while stimulating innovation and diversity in the island’s education ecosystem and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 U.N. SDG Framework.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have an important role in sustainable development of any nation and the development of the 21st century skills. The Caribbean region and small island economies are in need of future innovators, educators, researchers and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges both today and tomorrow. SISSTEM will embody sustainability policies on an academic level, supporting resilience in small island states while also educating a workforce that has the skill and capacity to make these policies a reality. SISSTEM will provide the research skills and disciplines, supported by its research centers and laboratories, within the scope of achieving sustainable development of islands and beyond.