In partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Terramar Museum Bonaire, National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) in Curaçao and KITLV, the University of St. Martin (USM) offers special intensive courses through its participation in the Transatlantic Academic Platform, starting in  January.

As part of the Island(er)s at the Helm research program, the Transatlantic Academic Platform encourages regional collaboration and international discussion by raising awareness of the role of social sciences and humanities in addressing climate change and other 21st-century challenges. Virtual and face-to-face classes will be made available to students and professionals across the Caribbean, Europe and North America.

The new courses, which started in January, are ‘Anthropologies of the Black Atlantic’ by Dr. Francio Guadeloupe (KITLV) and ‘Urban Development Management in Uncertain Times’ by prof. dr. Ellen van Bueren (TU Delft). The classes consist of participants from across the Caribbean and Europe, who bring their expertise in policy, engineering, art, development, research, city planning, history, culture and education to fruitful and engaging group discussions from sustainable urban development, risk mitigation, construction and urban planning to anthropology, Caribbean identity and black politics. Participants meet twice a week to reflect critically on local and international case studies.

The courses are part of a recurring series. The next courses in this series are planned for later in 2023.