Newly opened Roosevelt Academy elects Canadian as students’ chair

Institute’s first year

MIDDELBURG, the Netherlands – Zeeland’s first graduate-level educational institute is adding still more international flavour in its inaugural year. Roosevelt Academy, a sister-institute of University College Utrecht, offers courses in English only. Its students recently elected a Canadian to lead the academy’s students association.

Vancouver, BC resident Jesse Coleman (24) had been the treasurer of the association’s founding committee last year when the Roosevelt Academy opened its doors to students. Since then, he has been elected their chair.

The curriculum of the Academy, named after the U.S. colonial Dutch family Roosevelt, calls for at least sixteen hours of classes a week in English, and expects students to spend an additional 42 hours a week in what is called ‘self study.’

The Roosevelt Academy, a Liberal Arts & Sciences College, is located in the historic town hall, which offers students on campus housing as well. It offers internationally oriented undergraduate education, and was founded by Utrecht University and Hogeschool Zeeland. Roosevelt’s program includes courses in Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and Science. An intensive three-year program leads students to a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) Honours degrees, granted by the Utrecht University.

Roosevelt Academy is the sister college to University College Utrecht (UCU), the international honours college of Utrecht University. In its second year and third academic years, enrollment is expected to rise with up to 200 new students each year. Foreign students are encouraged to learn Dutch as well, offered through other classes.

The former island province of Zeeland has maintained international links through the centuries.