The Dominica State College, DSC is actively pursuing the enrollment of regional and international students.
Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Petter St. Jean, lead a four-member delegation to St. Maarten on Monday, October 14, 2013 to promote the DSC as a premier institution for higher education.
The four-member delegation included Minister St. Jean; Brian Meade, Chairman of the DSC Board of Governors; Dr Donald Peters, President of the DSC; and Daryl Titre, Press Attaché in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The delegation was received by Van Hugh Cornelius de Weever, Minister for Public Health, Social Development and Labour and a team from St. Maarten’s Ministry of Education. Hon. de Weever acted on behalf of Patricia Lourens, St. Maarten’s Minister for Education, who was attending a meeting overseas.
Minister St. Jean impressed upon the St. Maarten education officials the advantages of students from St. Maarten attending the Dominica State College. He highlighted the DSC’s ability to provide competitive higher level education in particular for areas suited for St. Maarten’s labour market. These include tourism, health care and education.
Dr Donald Peters gave a detailed power-point presentation which focussed on the faculties and programmes offered by the DSC. He spoke of the many DSC graduates who were now studying at universities in the United States and Europe. He explained that the credits obtained by these students from the DSC had significantly reduced the cost and length of studies at university.
The St. Maarten education officials expressed optimism and great interest. They view the DSC as a viable and financially beneficial option for higher education for St. Maarten students.
Both sides have agreed to continue dialogue with follow-up meetings and visits.
What is so special, or what sort of scientific disciplines we offer in a junior college in Dominica which a student in St. Marten cannot obtain on that island which perhaps have a junior college. In the first place if a St. Marten student were to travel to Dominica to study, and a two year degree is obtained, where in the world would this degree issued by DSC (Dominica State Degree); in what country of the world would that degree be recognized and accepted?
Let me just hint here the University of the West Indies has been in existence for a almost seventy years, however, I do not know of too many places outside of the Caribbean (the West Indies) where the University of The West Indies bestowed degrees are honored, and accepted.
Let us take medicine for argument sake. I will pay anyone who can prove to me that they know of anyone who obtained a medical degree from the UWI, and were, or are able to find employment outside the Caribbean region based on that medical degree earned from the UWI!
It has never happened. Even doctors educated in Cuba, are unable to use their degree to find work anywhere outside of the Caribbean. In any event, a two year college as that in Dominica can only issue an Associate in Arts (AA) degree, or perhaps an AS (Associate in Science) which may not be even acceptable any place in this universe excepts Dominica!
A degree is only accepted in places where the issuing college or University is associate with some college, or university from which their curriculum derived, in other words both institutions must teach basically the same curriculum; or in Dominica’s case some major institution would have to be willing to accept what they teach, and that would also depend on the qualifications of the faculty (staff) members.
I would like to know if Dominica State College is associated with any major four (4) year college or university, in the four corners of the universes. Another problem is that if students are going to go to Dominica to school at an institution without housing; no dormitories, shall they not fall victims at the hands of greedy landlords, one would have to wonder if it worth it!
When Petter focus his mind on International Students; from where does he intend to pull these international students, if he thinks what we have is in comparison to Ross Medical School, the man must be out of his mind all together; since we are dealing with two different situations.
You do not have a four year college, nor a university, and you get up talking crap about bringing international students to Dominica to study, when Dominicans just leaving school, leaves Dominica behind to pursue university education in North America and Europe. Man you are a joke, Dominica is a joke; it a circus is open!
My final thought, is DSG an accredited institution, and if so which major educational institution has bestowed it accreditation!?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Mr Telemaque .
Hello and good evening to you. Well you never miss a chance to say something negative about our people and country. Also you went to school in Dominica so what does that say about your education. You are a super of a building in California and you ride around on a motorcycle so what have you done for yourself since you left Dominica. Keep writing and criticizing our Country while we educate our people.
A motor cycle; my friend?
I do not know how to ride them; but I will tell you, and most Dominican’s from Los Angeles, to Canada, who knows me will tell you the cars I drive are all over the hundred thousand dollar range, and they are all sports cars, except my Hummer!
And mind you my education commenced in Dominica, continued in Antigua, and for a few semesters in England, and successfully ended in California.
The fact is Tony; DSC is a community, or two year college which many of the islands have; so what different can we teach at a communality college in Dominica that can’t be taught in a college on any of the other islands.
Assuming we had a “University of Dominica, where one could obtained a Masters degree; or an BA, BS, PhD, and or any upper level degree; suppose we taught medicine, and law ect, ect; only then I would support the effort to bring students to Dominica to study.
However, this crap that this man is talking about international students to study in a community college in Dominica, is nothing more than a joke and wishful thinking.
It is election time, so he has to place his gimmick so that he can impress the unsuspecting that Dominica is so advance technologically and have a better educational system, that our two year college is even better equip to teach even students from the United States where is a two year college in every ten mile radius.
The purpose that college should serve is to educate anybody in Dominica who have not had college to get at least two years of college, and that includes farmers, who could find the time to go to school at night. That’s what community colleges are all about you.
He should enrolment of people in Dominica at any age who would like to expand their knowledge, the same as it is in Europe, Canada, and America.
All that should be required is a placement test, if one is not a recent high school graduate.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Well, well, well!!! And what’s your motive?
Just for your information, I went to the Dominica State College (CDCC then) and was given a year and a half worth of credits towards my five years course of study in the United States. Hundreds of students from Dominica can echo the same including the Prime Minister.
Colleges and Universities in the United States are very impressed with DSC’s curriculum. You need to applaud this initiative instead of being so negative. The benefit is for all Dominicans.
If you are so certian of your claim, send us your survey. Be sure to include all professions (medical, engineering, accounting, business, etc.) We are more than willing to prove you wrong.
Student housing required if u going to start promoting abroad. Parents want to know where their children are going. Student housing is a must. Get it done. It could be privately owned but co operated by the college.
One of the 364 graduates, here is an investment opportunity for u.
I recommend the DSC officials on reaching out beyond Dominica’s borders to attract students. It is encouraging that there are so many students from the college, and I would recommend a course in business management to encourage students to start their own business in lieu of the government providing jobs. There is no way that the government can absorb so many educated people in the public sector. Some of the graduates will need to develop their own job opportunities for themselves and others. There must also be opportunities for small business loans to help the graduates get on their feet.
Correction: I commend instead of I recommend (sorry for the typo).
Hello and good evening my people. Well it’s good to try and get foreign students to attend DSC but I would like to know what’s the yearly tuition and the degree programs offered. Also Mr St Jean is the Minister of Education and I believe that he is the elected Official from Laplaine but does he hold a degree in Education or some other field.
What about bachelor degree in Education? Is the college offering bachelor’s degrees? Because I want to upgrade my certificate in education to a degree.
great job. wen its good plp say its good. all the best
Way to go Mr. president. Great move
Great initiative! With that in mind, they should explore student campus housing for students, even for those in Dominica.
An another note, the number of graduates DSC continue to discharge is astounding. And that is an accomplishment in itself. But where are they going? Do we know how many of them are pursuing studies abroad… and how many remain in Dominica? So then, the government REALLY needs to pave the way for an aggressive campaign to get investors/employers to the country. That has to happen now!
DSC must get on board with its program in the TECH and Engineering field ABET Accredited. This will reduced the work load of student intend on pursuing advance studies. This is just my take, this would open doors for other to comment on the accreditation of our programs.
what happen, when is talk about murder every one happy! When is talk about education and moving the island forward noone give a dam?
Anonymous .
Hello you are absolutely correct but you shouldn’t used derogatory language at people. Anyway our people seems to be intrigue by violence because they usually comment on such events. I say let us educate our people so they can make positive contribution to society.
U MUST B A RED