PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday Dec 13, 2014 the ICUC, the Intercontinental University of the Caribbean, held a thesis defence exam for its St. Maarten based students in their Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management program. Six students earned their bachelors degree on Saturday and have joined their seven predecessors making the total graduates 13.
The International Hospitality & Tourism Management (IHTM) program of ICUC was founded on The World Bank's recommendation. In 2001 The World Bank recommended to establish "a good quality hotel and restaurant school in Curaçao that could also attract students from elsewhere in the Caribbean" as an integral part of the overall economic reform and recover strategy of the island. In accordance with the World Bank's view that the school should be "undertaken by the private sector, with the Government playing a suitable catalytic and supporting role" , the IHTM program has been developed and initiated in 2003 in a strategic alliance with the Government – the Hospitality Industry – and the Tourism Sector. In 2006 a second campus of the school was opened on St. Maarten.
In its 8 years of existence, ICUC's bachelor program in International Hospitality & Tourism Management has hosted so far 150 students experiencing our innovative approach to international-career education.
The Study Abroad program includes that students spend each year part of the program abroad.
The program can look back with fulfilment on the realization of its international focus with a student mix including students from more than 20 countries and the wide range of international internship placements at places like: Miami, London, Amsterdam, Hawaii, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.
Since the dismantling of the former Netherlands Antilles the respective graduating St. Maarten students have been under the guidance of the ICUC in collaboration with the SXM Hospitality Educational Institute-SXMHEI.
Mr. Sidney Justiana, Program director of the I.H.T.M at the I.C.U.C. in Curacao, in an invited comment, praised the graduates who he said blew him away with their thesis defence. He stated further that all the St. Maarten students surpassed expectations and that if he had to single out a student that did tremendously well it would have to be Ms. Crystal Gumbs who, in his opinion, was spot on.
Justiana also commended the St. Maarten based team of instructors Mr. Claret Connor and Mr. Glen Yeung who were also members of the ICUC examination defence committee.
"St. Maarten must be proud to have such talented youngsters who despite all odds have endured and most importantly they have succeeded in achieving their goal" said Justiana, while confirming that the ICUC will continue to offer the Bachelor program in International Hospitality Management program on St. Maarten.
The six students who earned their bachelor degree on Saturday are Titus Lavia, Hector Ravelo, Leonides Richardson, Jazmin Sambo, Orane Ramdial and Crystal Gumbs.
Students that also earned their bachelors degree with the program earlier are Isabel Santos, Nkesi Cramer, Leon Benjamin, Tyler Charrasse, Keston Dornick, Anna Liaguseva and Audrey Jack.
Justiana further stated that he wished to thank the SXMHEI- the SXM Hospitality Educational Institute- for facilitating and hosting the program. He also wished to thank both Mr. Claret Connor and Mr. Glen Yeung for preparing, instructing, mentoring and guiding the candidates.
