Higher education

In Surinam, higher education consists of higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO) and research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO), just like in the Netherlands. But there are also major differences to Dutch higher education:

• There is 1 university in Surinam: the Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname (AdeKUS). This university offers hoger beroepsonderwijs ( HBO i ) and wetenschappelijk onderwijs ( WO i ).
• Other Surinam higher education institutions offer HBO and in some cases MBO i as well.

Below, we describe the diplomas we often see.

If students do not have the previous education or subjects required for admission to a bachelor’s programme from the AdeKUS, they can do a preparatory year (universitair schakeljaar). After completing it, they get a Certificaat van het universitair schakeljaar.

• Duration: 1 year.
• Content: general education subjects. The subjects students take depend on their previous education and the bachelor’s programme they want to apply for.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (H.A.V.O);
  • Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (V.W.O.);
  • NATIN-diploma;
  • IMEAO-diploma; or
  • Getuigschrift van de Algemeen Vormende Fase.
• Function of the diploma: meeting the admission requirements for a bachelor’s programme at the AdeKUS.
• Diploma: Certificaat van het universitair schakeljaar.

Students obtain a LOBO-diploma after completing the LOBO teacher training programme (lerarenopleiding voor beroepsonderwijs, LOBO). The educational institution has the same name as the study programme: LOBO.

• Duration: 3 years.
• Content: a teacher training programme aimed at teaching in vocational lower secondary education. Students choose one of the following specialisations:
  • bouwkunde (construction engineering);
  • elektrotechniek (electrical engineering);
  • facilitaire dienstverlening (facility management);
  • horeca (hospitality industry);
  • mode, creatie en commercie (fashion, creation and commerce);
  • onderwijskunde (educational sciences);
  • werktuigbouwkunde (mechanical engineering); or
  • wiskunde, mechanica en natuurkunde (mathematics, mechanics and physics).
    Students study educational subjects, such as pedagogy and education methods. They also do an internship. Since 2017, the LOBO has used studiepunten (credits) to indicate the study load of the study programme.
• Admission requirements: a Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (H.A.V.O) with mathematics and physics or an MBO diploma in a relevant specialisation. The educational institution may also accept other diplomas for admission.
• Function of the diploma: working as a teacher in vocational lower secondary education (lager beroepsonderwijs, LBO).
• Diploma: LOBO-diploma.

Students obtain a Diploma De Nieuwe Leerkracht after completing a primary teacher training programme. Please note: before 2016, student received other diplomas after completing this study programme (see below).

• Duration: 4 years.
• Content: a teacher training programme, aimed at teaching in primary education. Students choose a specialisation:
  • lower primary education; or
  • upper primary education.
    Students study educational subjects, such as pedagogy and education methods. They also do an internship.
• Admission requirements: a MULO-diploma A/B.
• Function of the diploma: working as a teacher in lower or upper primary education.
• Diploma: Diploma De Nieuwe Leerkracht.

Students obtain a Bachelor of Arts after completing a bachelor’s programme at the Akademie voor Hoger Kunst- en Cultuuronderwijs (AHKCO). The study programmes from AHKCO are profession-oriented.

• Duration: 4 years.
• Study load: 120 credit points (CP).
• Content: profession-oriented subjects in one of the following specialisations:
  • beeldende kunsten (visual arts);
  • journalistiek en communicatie (journalism and communication); or
  • sociaal-cultureel vormingswerk – SOCUVO (social work).
• Admission requirements: a Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (H.A.V.O). The educational institution may also accept other diplomas for admission.
• Function of the diploma: work.
• Diploma: Bachelor of Arts.

Students get an MO-A-akte after completing a teacher training programme for lower secondary education. The study programme is offered by the IOL.

• Duration: 3 years.
• Study load i : 180 studiepunten. Please note: sometimes, the studiepunten are not mentioned on the trancript.
• Content: a teacher training programme, aimed at teaching in lower secondary education. Students study educational subjects, such as pedagogy and education methods. They also do an internship.
• Admission requirements: a Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (H.A.V.O).
• Function of the diploma: working as a teacher in lower secondary education. Students can also continue studying for an MO-B-akte.
• Diploma: MO-A-akte.

Students get an MO-B-akte after completing a teacher training programme for upper secondary education. The study programme is offered by the IOL.

• Duration: 1 to 2 years.
• Content: a teacher training programme, aimed at teaching in upper secondary education. Students study educational subjects, such as pedagogy and education methods. They also do an internship.
• Admission requirements: an MO-A-akte. (180 studiepunten).
• Function of the diploma: working as a teacher in upper secondary education. People with this diploma are also allowed to teach in lower secondary education.
• Diploma: MO-B-akte.

The Stichting Jeugdtandverzorging (JTV) offers the Bachelor of Oral Health study programme.

• Duration: 4 years.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects about oral care and dentistry. Students do an internship and conclude the study programme with a thesis. For more information, see the JTV website (in Dutch).
• Admission requirements: a Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (H.A.V.O) with the subjects biology and chemistry. The educational institution may also accept other diplomas for admission.
• Function of the diploma: working as an Oral Health Therapist (OHT).
• Diploma: Bachelor of Oral Health.

Please note: before 2016, the study programme was 1 year shorter and did not result in a bachelor’s degree. After completing the programme, students would receive a Diploma Jeugdtandverzorger. We compare this diploma to 3 years of HBO.

The AdeKUS offers various bachelor’s programmes. These study programmes can be either profession-oriented or research-oriented study programmes.

• Duration: usually 3 years. The Medicine programme takes 4 years to complete.
• Content: profession-oriented or research-oriented subjects.
• Admission requirements: usually a Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (V.W.O.), often with extra requirements, such as specific subjects.
• Function of the diploma: access to work or master’s programmes.
• Diploma: one of the following diplomas:
  • Bachelor of Arts;
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B);
  • Bachelor of Science;
  • Doctoraal examen (Doctorandus) in de medische wetenschappen (geneeskunde) after completing the Medicine programme.

Students obtain a Bachelor of Applied Technology after completing a bachelor’s programme at the Polytechnic College Suriname (PTC). Study programmes from the PTC are profession-oriented.

• Duration: 3 to 5 years.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects in a technical specialisation. For more information, see the PTC website. In the upper left corner of the website, you can select ‘English’ to view the English version of the website.
• Admission requirements: a Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (H.A.V.O).
• Function of the diploma: work and in some cases access to a master’s programme at the PTC.
• Diploma: Bachelor of Applied Technology.

The AdeKUS offers various master’s programmes. These study programmes can be either profession-oriented or research-oriented.

• Duration: 2 years. The Medicine programmes takes 3 years to complete.
• Content: profession-oriented or research-oriented subjects.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree.
• Function of the diploma: work.
• Diploma: one of the following diplomas:
  • Artsexamen in de medische wetenschappen;
  • Master of Arts;
  • Master of Laws/Meester in de rechten; or
  • Master of Science.