Most recently, St. Maarten was highlighted by global online learning platform Coursera for the country’s high performance and achievements in the Learn SMART Program which is managed by St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. The program’s extraordinary achievements were presented by SMDF Program Associate Breanna Barrie during a Coursera leaders webinar.

As the project lead, Barrie has been instrumental in engaging St. Maarten residents. She has continuously encouraged them to develop themselves personally and professionally by participating in online courses that help improve their skills and career capabilities. Barrie’s innovative approach and unwavering commitment have led to increased participation and engagement in the Learn SMART program.

Seeing the successes of St. Maarten, Coursera extended a personal invitation to Breanna, requesting her to deliver an insightful presentation on her impressive engagement and management techniques within the Learn SMART program. Addressing a global audience composed of representatives from governments worldwide, her impactful presentation has inspired the adoption of her distinct strategies, fostering the continuous betterment of participants through online education on a broader scale. This is a testament to her expertise and the impact of her work within SMDF.

SMDF is proud to have St. Maarten highlighted on a global stage, especially as the Learn SMART program is one of the smallest Coursera programs in the world.. Through the hard work of Breanna Barrie, the program has been a resounding success.