EDUCATION IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN: INTERVIEW WITH SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH
By JJosepha News
Twitter.com/JJosephaNews
Willemstad, Curacao. In this first of a two part interview with Johannes M. (Hans) Bos, senior vice president, education and international development at American Institutes for Research (AIR), headquartered in Washington DC, we start to take a look at education in the Dutch Caribbean (business and medical schools).
Dr Bos specializes in new business development in the education, workforce, health, and social development programs and he also directed AIR’s international development evaluation and research (IDER) program and managed AIR’s San Mateo, California’s office.
He is a nationally recognized expert in the conduct of randomized control trials in education and other areas of social policy research. Since 1992 he has conducted numerous domestic and international evaluations and policy studies in education, child development, welfare reform, and labour policy.
Among the programs Dr Bos has studied are those providing job training for economically disadvantaged youths, those supporting teen parents and their children, and those supporting high school to college transitions for low-income high school students.
In recent years, Dr Bos’ work has also included evaluation of health reform programs, literacy programs in middle and lower-income countries, and programs to improve the process of teacher recruitment, hiring, and induction.
In a frank and cheerful telephone conversation, JJosephaNews had a unique and exclusive interview with Dr Bos.
Dr Johannes Bos: Hi Josefina, to answer your excellent questions, please note that I am not an expert in the accreditation of institutes of higher education and especially in medical schools but I am somewhat familiar with the practice of US-based medical schools operating in the Caribbean. I am happy to expand on these answers if that would be helpful.
Josefina Josepha: What are the criteria and/or the guidelines for American based/headquartered schools, operating outside the US in a tax haven country, such as Curacao or the Cayman Islands?
JB: The best place to look for the official rules on our end is to start with this US Department of Education’s website. As far as I know, hospitals and other large health care providers in the US regularly hire doctors and other medical personnel with foreign credentials. As long as they are accredited by bona fide organizations, this is a good lower-cost option for US doctors to get their medical education. It also opens up the medical profession to students who otherwise could not afford a medical career.
JJ: Education is the key to improving a country’s status level and national output, what general advice can you share towards avenues to improving the citizens’ lives as it relates to education, healthcare and business approaches?
JB: The most important advice (based on research in many countries and communities) is to start early. Getting three- and four-year-olds ready for school and ready to learn is the most cost-effective way to improve the educational outcomes and well-being of a society as a whole. To do this, you have to provide mothers with good pre-natal and neo-natal care, you have to make sure that young children have good nutrition and health care, and you have to provide young children with early mental stimulation (toys, attention, interaction, engagement). Starting with early education, you then have to create clear and unobstructed pathways for children to access educational and economic opportunities. Foreign medical and business schools could be part of such a pathway strategy by providing local opportunities for an affordable and high-quality medical or business education. This should be part of a government strategy to allow these institutions to operate in your society.
JJ: What general policymaking practice and or procedures would you generally advise to those evaluating American based/headquartered school wanting to be established for operation in an underdeveloped or developing country?
JB: The most important thing is to make sure that they are a legitimate institution that is properly and independently accredited. If the institution also operates on other islands, I would ask them for a random sample of graduates and follow up with these people:
• Where are they now?
• Are they employed as medical doctors?
• Do they have good track records?
• What do they say about the education they received?
Next, I would carefully study the financial background of the institution:
• Are they able to buy/rent and maintain the buildings and equipment they need?
• Do they have the resources to get through a slow period?
• Were they able to stay in business in other places they operate?
• Are they able to attract and retain enough students to remain viable?
After all of this checks out, I would then meet with the institution’s leadership and ask them: “What is in it for us? How will your presence help the island and our own students and professionals?” Because for any such joint venture to work it has to be a true partnership.
There is more to come, and stay tuned for part two of this interview and Ask Nina on Thursday, as we evaluate the business schools at Curasalenos’ disposal and what do the medical schools in Curacao offer to public health care or those interested in studying public health care.
Stay tuned on Thursday when we take a serious look at the medical schools and universities in Curacao.
Dr Bos specializes in new business development in the education, workforce, health, and social development programs and he also directed AIR’s international development evaluation and research (IDER) program and managed AIR’s San Mateo, California’s office.
He is a nationally recognized expert in the conduct of randomized control trials in education and other areas of social policy research. Since 1992 he has conducted numerous domestic and international evaluations and policy studies in education, child development, welfare reform, and labour policy.
Among the programs Dr Bos has studied are those providing job training for economically disadvantaged youths, those supporting teen parents and their children, and those supporting high school to college transitions for low-income high school students.
In recent years, Dr Bos’ work has also included evaluation of health reform programs, literacy programs in middle and lower-income countries, and programs to improve the process of teacher recruitment, hiring, and induction.
In a frank and cheerful telephone conversation, JJosephaNews had a unique and exclusive interview with Dr Bos.
Dr Johannes Bos: Hi Josefina, to answer your excellent questions, please note that I am not an expert in the accreditation of institutes of higher education and especially in medical schools but I am somewhat familiar with the practice of US-based medical schools operating in the Caribbean. I am happy to expand on these answers if that would be helpful.
Josefina Josepha: What are the criteria and/or the guidelines for American based/headquartered schools, operating outside the US in a tax haven country, such as Curacao or the Cayman Islands?
JB: The best place to look for the official rules on our end is to start with this US Department of Education’s website. As far as I know, hospitals and other large health care providers in the US regularly hire doctors and other medical personnel with foreign credentials. As long as they are accredited by bona fide organizations, this is a good lower-cost option for US doctors to get their medical education. It also opens up the medical profession to students who otherwise could not afford a medical career.
JJ: Education is the key to improving a country’s status level and national output, what general advice can you share towards avenues to improving the citizens’ lives as it relates to education, healthcare and business approaches?
JB: The most important advice (based on research in many countries and communities) is to start early. Getting three- and four-year-olds ready for school and ready to learn is the most cost-effective way to improve the educational outcomes and well-being of a society as a whole. To do this, you have to provide mothers with good pre-natal and neo-natal care, you have to make sure that young children have good nutrition and health care, and you have to provide young children with early mental stimulation (toys, attention, interaction, engagement). Starting with early education, you then have to create clear and unobstructed pathways for children to access educational and economic opportunities. Foreign medical and business schools could be part of such a pathway strategy by providing local opportunities for an affordable and high-quality medical or business education. This should be part of a government strategy to allow these institutions to operate in your society.
JJ: What general policymaking practice and or procedures would you generally advise to those evaluating American based/headquartered school wanting to be established for operation in an underdeveloped or developing country?
JB: The most important thing is to make sure that they are a legitimate institution that is properly and independently accredited. If the institution also operates on other islands, I would ask them for a random sample of graduates and follow up with these people:
• Where are they now?
• Are they employed as medical doctors?
• Do they have good track records?
• What do they say about the education they received?
Next, I would carefully study the financial background of the institution:
• Are they able to buy/rent and maintain the buildings and equipment they need?
• Do they have the resources to get through a slow period?
• Were they able to stay in business in other places they operate?
• Are they able to attract and retain enough students to remain viable?
After all of this checks out, I would then meet with the institution’s leadership and ask them: “What is in it for us? How will your presence help the island and our own students and professionals?” Because for any such joint venture to work it has to be a true partnership.
There is more to come, and stay tuned for part two of this interview and Ask Nina on Thursday, as we evaluate the business schools at Curasalenos’ disposal and what do the medical schools in Curacao offer to public health care or those interested in studying public health care.
Stay tuned on Thursday when we take a serious look at the medical schools and universities in Curacao.
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About Ask Nina
"Ask Nina" is an advice column founded, created and operated by Josefina Josepha under the pen name of "Nina". The advice column is managed by JJosepha News. The advice column’s mission is to impart compassionate, sound advice and incorporating expert advice sought from authorities, while delivering a layman’s approach with the straightforward style of a good friend. Have a question, need an answer, Ask Nina!
DISCLAIMER: The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. The use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute for any professional, financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional, psychological or medical help, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified specialist. The opinions or views expressed in this column are not intended to treat or diagnose; nor are they meant to replace the treatment and care that you may be receiving from a licensed professional, physician or mental health professional. This column, its author, the newspaper and publisher are not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any given situation. You, and only you, are completely responsible for your actions.
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