PHILIPSBURG – The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) recently awarded Vensia Matthew, an Accounts Receivable Billing Clerk at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), a Certificate of Excellence for completing 89 courses within their Learn SMART Program.

Learn SMART is an e-learning program launched and executed by SMDF in close collaboration with the Government of Sint Maarten and one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, Coursera. The program provides learners with free access to courses from accredited leading university and industry educators institutions from around the world including Yale University, the University of Michigan, IBM, and Microsoft. With the program being completely online, learners delve into themes such as entrepreneurship, customer relations, and business administration among others over a two-year period. Additionally, as the world continues to shift towards technology, the Learn SMART initiative also offers free scholarships to Google entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera. These certificates, in the fields of Project Management, Data Analytics, IT Support, and UX Design, will create pathways for residents to work in technology areas of the future.

Since its launch, Learn SMART has seen over 1,000 requests to participate with hundreds of people, including Vensia Matthew, completing courses ranging from entrepreneurship, customer relations, and business administration. When speaking about the program, she expressed: “Learn SMART is a great way to gain knowledge and be more versed in various fields. The program offers a wide variety of courses, which cater to the needs of every learner. It is not only for working professionals but for everyone. You may want to start your own business or join a company that requires a specific skill set. This program was designed with you in mind. With endless possibilities, and a knowledgeable support team, learning becomes fun and right at your fingertips.” Speaking further, she shared her positive experiences stating, “I have completed a number of courses and to date have only had pleasant experiences. I encourage everyone who wants personal growth to sign up and start the process today. Let’s all continue to learn today for a better tomorrow.”

SMDF has re-opened its online application portal to prospective learners with a deadline date of October 31, 2022. Applicants must be 18 years or older and must provide proof of residency on St. Maarten via a recent utility bill, bank statement, pay slip or Census registration form. The online application along with the required supplemental documentation is available at smdf.sx/learnsmart. For anyone interested in learning more about the program, they can contact SMDF via email at [email protected].