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Aruba
Aruba is an island in the Caribbean which is a separate member state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Geographically, it is a 33-kilometre (21 mi)-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, 27 km (17 mi) north of Venezuela. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles. It has a land area of 193 km2 (75 sq mi).
Its population is just over 100,000.
Its capital (and largest city) is Oranjestad.
Aruba has no administrative subdivisions.
Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. This climate has helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm, sunny weather - it lies outside the hurricane belt.
e-learning
(sourced mainly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruba)
Aruba's educational system is patterned after that in the Netherlands - and provides for education at all levels. The Government finances the national education system, except for private schools, such as the International School of Aruba (ISA), which finance their own activities. The percentage of money earmarked for education is higher than the average for the Caribbean/Latin American region.
Arubans benefit from a strong primary school education. A segmented secondary school program includes vocational training (VMBO), basic education (MAVO), college prep (HAVO) and advanced placement (VWO).
There are 68 schools for primary education, 12 schools for secondary education and 5 higher education institutions. In 2007, there were 22.930 fulltime students registered.
Higher education goals can be pursued through the Professional Education programme (EPI), the teachers college (IPA) as well as through the University of Aruba (UA) - http://www.ua.aw - this offers bachelors and masters programs in law, finance and economics and hospitality and tourism management. There is a Centre for Lifelong Learning and some plans for developing this in future - see http://www.ua.aw/ua/getPage.do?page=ABOUT_UA
Since the choice for higher education on the island itself is limited, many students choose to study abroad in countries in North America, South America as well as Europe.
Some students in Aruba study with the Dutch Open University - see for example http://dspace.ou.nl/bitstream/1820/1035/1/Dissertation%20Dewiyanti%202005.pdf
There are also two private universities in Aruba:
- All Saints University of Medicine - http://www.asumaruba.org
- Xavier University, School of Medicine (XUSOM) http://edu.xusom.nl
All courses are presented in English. Both school curricula are based on the United States medical school model and will lead to a Doctor of Medicine degree that is recognized in North America.