Investigation of students who do not return to Aruba

Recently, Minister Endy Croes met with Mrs. Liraysa Ponson and Mr. Gregorio Tromp was born in the United States. Ms. Ponson was a student at the University of Aruba, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies. In the final stage of her studies, she did research for her thesis. The title of the thesis is “Factors related with the choice to move back to Aruba once graduated”.

As is we all know, Aruba provides students with the unique opportunity to continue their advanced studies abroad in, among others, the Netherlands. The desire is that once the students complete their studies, they return to Aruba with their diplomas, knowledge, and experience to contribute to the progress and development of our country. Unfortunately, some students do not complete their studies or do not return to Aruba. This means that Aruba does not benefit from the knowledge and expertise of these students.

Liraysa’s thesis research focuses on the factors that play a role in students’ decision not to return to Aruba after completing their studies. The research provides advice and/or suggestions on how to attract students back to Aruba, so that they can continue to contribute to the development of our country. Liraysa interviewed thirty (30) students living and studying in the Netherlands. The research highlighted the factors that attract students to return to Aruba are, among others, job opportunities, family and friends’ incentives, sense of responsibility at home and in society, culture and values, experience gained from studying abroad, climate and development of a country. The reason why many students do not return to Aruba is because they do not see opportunities to continue to grow and develop in their careers and do not receive the salary they deserve. Advice on how to attract students to return to Aruba is, among other things, more job opportunities, investment in education, more study options in Aruba, less corruption and favoritism in our government system. To conclude, Minister Endy Croes thanks Liraysa for his visit, his dedication to the study and for the recommendations, while wishing Liraysa much success with his master’s degree in Organization Studies at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.