UA Governance
Board of Trustees
The University of Aruba is governed by a Board of Trustees which promotes education and research and oversees the operations of the university.
The current Board of Trustees consists of the following members:
drs. Juri Nicolaas
President curator
mr. Eugene H.J. Martis
Vice-president Curator
drs. Herry Koolman
Curator
ms. Petrissa (Tisa) I. LaSorte
Curator
Greeting from the President of the Board of Directors of the University of Aruba, drs. Juri Nicolaas.
As previously stated by the outgoing President of the Board, “Education has a transformative effect on both individuals and communities. Since its inception, the University of Aruba has offered an accessible education to the people of Aruba, much to the benefit of the island.”
Education at macro-level, is known to create superior human capital, an important factor in social and economic development of any country and at micro-level, among others, it enhances individual potential in terms of entrepreneurship, self-understanding, employability and the way we look at the world (Oztruk 2001).
The University of Aruba is aware that the education that it offers in the several academic programs within our faculties, play a catalytic role in the process of social, legal and economic transformation of our island state.
As current President of the Board, I’m honored to serve the UA community and represent the society of Aruba at large in upholding the University of Aruba’s long tradition of providing outstanding, impactful education.
I invite you to become part of our esteemed institution either as a student or as a member of our team.
Contact the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees can be reached via the secretariat of the rectorate:
Tel: (297) 526-2200
Email: rectoraat@ua.aw
Or via the correspondence address:
J. Irausquinplein 4
P.O. Box 5
Oranjestad, Aruba
Rector
The Rector is responsible for directing and supervising the daily operations within the University of Aruba. The Rector is the main contact person on matters of education and research and communicates with other centers of knowledge on behalf of the University.
Contact the Rector
The Rector can be reached via the secretariat of the rectorate:
Tel: (297) 526-2200
Email: rectoraat@ua.aw
Business Director
Our university has had a director of operations for a number of years. His duties include all activities within “the company” – the university. With the exception of that which belongs to the primary process of “the company” (providing services and/or producing products; which is in the university’s case education, research, and social services). The director of operations is thus responsible for, among others, the support staff, the organization of the offices and centers, the finances, and the accommodation.
The current director of operations of the University of Aruba is:
Business Director: Mr. Patrick Arens, MA
Contact the Business Director
Tel: (297) 526-2200
Email: patrick.arens@ua.aw
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board promotes the general interests of education and research and consists of the Rector (acting as chairperson) and the deans of the faculties.
Appeals Committee
The Advisory Board establishes an Appeals Committee in accordance with article 33, paragraph 1, LUA. This committee is an independent administrative appeal body whose task is to reach a decision on the result of an exam or part thereof, or the way in which an exam or part thereof has to be checked against the regulations established by or pursuant to the LUA, and to the reasonableness or fairness, in the case, a student deems the decision or the course of events relating to the results of the exam resulted directly against his best interest.
Faculty Council
Each faculty has its Faculty Council responsible for the education and research of the faculty. The chairperson of the Faculty Council is elected by the full-time academic personnel for the duration of one academic year and holds the title of Dean of the Faculty. The Faculty Council is formed from all levels within a faculty, namely the academic personnel, both full and part-time teachers, along with the non-academic personnel and student body representatives. The Faculty Council is entitled to establish committees, such as the Exam Committee and the Education Committee.
Exam Committee
Every faculty has an Exam Committee consisting of a minimum of three academic personnel. The Exam Committee is responsible for assuring the quality of exams and determines, among others, the grade lists and whether or not students have successfully passed their exams. A chairperson is elected by the members of the Exam Committee from their midst.
Education Committee
The legal framework for the University of Aruba does not provide for (the possibility of) an Education Committee. However, the small scale and its relatively low threshold keep the distance between students and ‘management’ very small. Therefore a more tailored platform/forum can be chosen by the faculties. Faculties can choose a forum where students can identify problems, contribute ideas and supervise the quality (care) and implementation of follow-up/improvement steps to the study programs provided by the faculty.
