~Economic research competition for high school and university students~
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) announces the kick-off of the 5th edition of the Best Economic Research Award (BERA) for students. Final-year HAVO and VWO students from Curaçao and Sint Maarten are invited to submit an economic research paper on a topic relevant for the economies of the monetary union. Additionally, bachelor’s and master’s level students can compete by submitting a thesis written between 2023 and 2025, related to small island economies. All winners will receive attractive prizes, and the schools of the winners on the HAVO and VWO level will also receive a reward.
The main objective of the BERA is to promote economic research among students in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, with a special focus on small island economies. In addition, the CBCS hopes to inspire HAVO and VWO students to pursue higher education in the field of economics through this program. “Over the past years, we have seen a consistent rise in the number of participants from both students and schools, along with a notable improvement in the quality of the entries. The topics addressed in the last competition were particularly engaging, reflecting students' awareness of current economic trends and their eagerness to investigate and analyze them," says CBCS executive director Dr. José Jardim.
The winning project(s) of the competition at HAVO and VWO levels will each receive a prize of Cg. 2,500 and a trophy, while the winning school in each category will receive a prize of Cg. 5,000 and a trophy. Meanwhile, the winner at bachelor level will receive a prize of Cg. 5,000, while the winner at master level will receive a prize of Cg. 7,500. Both winners will also receive a trophy. It should be noted that the competition at the bachelor’s and master’s level is open to students from universities in Curaçao, Sint Maarten and abroad.
Soon, all HAVO and VWO schools in Curaçao and Sint Maarten will receive an official invitation to participate in the BERA. In addition, the schools may request an information session about the competition to be held at their location, conducted by CBCS’ staff. In Curaçao, the information sessions will be held in the coming weeks, while in Sint Maarten, they are planned for early December. The goal of these sessions is to encourage and engage student participation. In the first quarter of 2025, representatives of the CBCS will visit the universities on both islands to provide graduating students with relevant information about the award.
For more information on the rules of the competition, including participation and evaluation criteria, please visit www.centralbank.cw/education/best-paper-award.
Willemstad, October 18, 2024
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN
