Higher education
18 Nov 2010
On this page
- Short description of the higher education system
- Types of degrees
- Quality assurance and acreditation
- Recent reforms
Short description of the higher education system
Surinam’s higher education system encompasses one university with three faculties, five higher professional education institutions and several research institutes. A number of foreign higher education institutions (e.g. from the Netherlands) also offer higher education programmes in Surinam.
A more comprehensive overview of higher education institutions and programmes in Surinam is expected to become available in the future, after an accreditation system for higher education has been fully developed.
Types of degrees
Anton de Kom University of Suriname, the country’s only university, offers three-year bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in engineering and the social sciences. The bachelor’s-master’s degree structure has not (yet) been introduced in the university’s medical programmes; instead, its Faculty of Medicine offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy, a four-year Doctorandus degree (based on the former Dutch degree system and comparable to a master’s), and a seven-year Doctor of Medicine degree.
The Institute for Advanced Teacher Training (primary-level teacher training) offers a one-year programme leading to a Certificate in Education degree, a three-year junior secondary education teacher training programme leading to the MO-A Akte degree and a three-year senior teacher training programme leading to the MO-B Akte degree. Vocational teacher training is also offered in the form of a three-year evening programme leading to a LOBO degree.
The Academy for Higher Education in Arts and Culture offers four-year bachelor’s courses. Polytechnic College Suriname offers a modular five-year evening programme resulting in a bachelor’s degree. The Youth Dental Care Foundation offers a three-year programme, with graduates awarded a Certificate of Adolescent Dental Care.
Quality assurance and accreditation
Established in 2008, the National Accreditation Body (Nationaal Orgaan voor Accreditatie, NOVA) is responsible for quality assurance in higher education.
Recent reforms
In recent years, the majority of higher education programmes have been given a more practical focus. The recent introduction of the National Accreditation Body has led some higher education institutions to implement internal quality assurance systems, but accreditation processes have been slowed down by problems of logistics and the ‘brain drain’ .
There is a major shortage of highly qualified staff, and Surinamese who choose to study abroad usually do not return to Surinam to pursue further study or a career.
