Study in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Study in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
The tough little island of Haiti has survived numerous hardships – political turmoil, hurricanes and earthquakes included. Leading this devastated country back to glory is a difficult task, and Port-au-Prince is evidence of Haiti’s determined, persevering soul. With the capital city still under heavy reconstruction efforts, students may find Port-au-Prince one of the most dangerous, surreal and enlightening locations for their studies.Much of Haiti’s higher educational efforts have been delayed, daunted or devastated by the earthquake of 2010. The city of Port-au-Prince, though not located at earthquake’s epicenter, was nonetheless strongly affected by the 7.0 magnitude quake. Many educational facilities were destroyed by the disaster. However, higher education still lives on in Haiti, despite the efforts of an angry mother nature. Several universities manage to hold strong within the city, along with some religiously affiliated institutions that cater to students of all ages.
Several museums, focused in areas of art and culture, make Port-au-Prince a great place to sightsee for artistic enthusiasts. When even the centuries-old cathedrals aren’t enough, students can still switch gears by catching a street race or some traditional, live music. Haiti would also be a great place for students seeking to help with relief and reconstruction efforts; though many projects have already been underway for some time, there is always room for another helping hand.
Other considerations for students wishing to study in Port-au-Prince include:
- Majority of courses taught in French, English or Haitian Creole.
- Heavy damages still exist from earthquake.
- Some institutions are religiously affiliated.
Major Fields of Study in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince has been struggling since the 2010 earthquake disaster, and many schools and institutions either remain in disrepair, or are functioning under totally new circumstances. As a result, studies in Haiti are more limited. However, despite the traumatic past of the city, universities still offer a fairly large number of schools, faculties and studies in many science, engineering, technology, business, cultural and medical fields.
Almost all universities within Port-au-Prince include a department in agricultural studies, making this one of the most prominent subject areas in the city. Economics is another subject that enjoys a significant amount of attention from students and university programs. The most popular subject in Port-au-Prince, according to student enrollment and available course programs, are as follows:
- Law
- Economics
- A griculture
Some medicine and health science programs have also seen a rise in enrollment rates, and many Haitian graduates from these programs practice nursing or technician work in cities around the world.
Schools of Port-au-Prince
The following universities are the main higher education institutions in Port-au-Prince as of 2012. There are other religious institutions available, but these may only cater to students of certain ages.
- The State University of Haiti is one of the most important locations for higher education studies in Port-au-Prince. It offers a wide variety of courses in agriculture, medicine, law, economics, dentistry, African studies, science and humanities. The university has also been offering online courses.
- The Université Quisqueya is a diverse institution offering a variety of course programs, most notably in agriculture and economics. It pursues a number of research projects while providing services to local businesses, teaching programs and international corporations.
- The Unversité Notre Dam d’Haiti is a private, Roman Catholic institution. It has five faculties, and several departments and research initiatives in medical sciences and public health. In fact, the university itself is mainly invested in pre-med and medical training programs.