University of Applied Science and Technology Suriname

What University of Applied Science and Technology Suriname does

University of Applied Science and Technology Suriname (UNASAT) is a private non-profit foundation (Stichting) established in September 2010 to deliver Higher Vocational Education (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs / HBO) in Suriname. The institution operates two academic schools: Opleiding ICT offering bachelor programs in Bedrijfskundige Informatica (Business Informatics), Software Engineering, and System Network Engineering; and Opleiding Management & Economics offering bachelor programs in Bedrijfseconomie (Business Economics), Bedrijfskunde (Business Administration), and Communicatiemanagement (Communication Management). Programs follow an 8-semester competency-based structure with 240 EC credits (Management & Economics) or 210+30 EC (ICT), delivered through evening and Saturday classes to accommodate working professionals.

UNASAT generates revenue through tuition fees across its bachelor programs and short courses via the Institute for Certificate Studies. The go-to-market model is community-led, targeting working adults and recent secondary school graduates in Suriname through its Paramaribo headquarters (Hindilaan 1B), a Nickerie branch, website (unasat.sr), email, WhatsApp, and an industry advisory council (Onderwijs Advies Raad) that drives referrals. The institution has 1,998 enrolled students, 147 lecturers, and 56 employees.

The institution operates five specialized business units beyond its core academic programs: the Institute for Certificate Studies (short courses and associate degrees), Institute for Research and Development, Distance Education and Communication Network (internet, radio, and television delivery), UNASAT School of Geology and Mining Technology (mercury-free gold production training), and the Center for Agricultural & Rural Development. UNASAT maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification (re-certified May 2025) and holds NOVA accreditation for both its ICT (2015) and Management & Economics (2019) programs. The founding partnership with Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) provides international curriculum standards, while a collaboration with Anton de Kom University supports knowledge sharing.

Name

University of Applied Science and Technology Suriname

Legal name

Stichting University of Applied Sciences and Technology Suriname

Website

https://unasat.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UNASAT is a non-profit foundation established in 2010 delivering higher vocational education in Suriname, offering six bachelor programs across ICT and Management & Economics schools to approximately 2,000 working professionals and recent graduates through campus-based and distance learning formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Vocational Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics Management Schools (EDAHAHAF), Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Higher vocational education
• Bachelor degree programs
• ICT education
• Business administration training
• Professional certificate courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Paramaribo

HQ country

Suriname

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: UNASAT generates revenue through tuition fees for bachelor degree programs in ICT and Management & Economics, as well as short courses and certificate programs offered through its Institute for Certificate Studies. Programs are designed for part-time students, enabling working professionals to pursue higher education while employed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UNASAT is a higher vocational education institution that delivers competency-based bachelor degree programs (B.ICT and BBA) in ICT and Management & Economics, structured across 8 semesters (240 EC for M&E, 210 EC major plus 30 EC minor for ICT). The institution also operates five specialized business units including the Institute for Certificate Studies (short courses and associate degrees), Institute for Research and Development, Distance Education and Communication Network, School of Geology and Mining Technology, and a Center for Agricultural & Rural Development. Programs are designed for part-time working professionals, delivered through evening and Saturday classes at the Paramaribo campus and Nickerie branch.

Product overview

UNASAT Suriname is a higher vocational education institution offering a platform of bachelor programs and specialized institutes. The core academic portfolio consists of six bachelor programs under two schools: Opleiding ICT (Bedrijfskundige Informatica, Software Engineering, System Network Engineering) and Opleiding Management & Economics (Bedrijfseconomie, Bedrijfskunde, Communicatiemanagement). These programs are supported by the integrated educational concept centered on nine generic competencies, with the Persoonlijke Professionalisering (PP) framework weaving personal development throughout all semesters. UNASAT also operates five specialized business units: Institute for Certificate Studies (short courses and associate degrees), Institute for Research and Development, Distance Education and Communication Network, School of Geology and Mining Technology, and the Center for Agricultural & Rural Development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bedrijfseconomie (BE) Bachelor Program Business Economics bachelor program focused on financial-economic management, preparing students to manage company finances, create budgets, and become financial experts. Part of the Opleiding Management & Economics school.
• Bedrijfskunde (BK) Bachelor Program Business Administration bachelor program preparing students for management functions, focusing on organization processes, strategy, and change management. Part of the Opleiding Management & Economics school.
• Communicatiemanagement (CoMan) Bachelor Program Communication Management bachelor program teaching students how organizations communicate, plan, execute, and evaluate their communication strategies. Part of the Opleiding Management & Economics school.
• Bedrijfskundige Informatica (BI) Bachelor Program Business Informatics bachelor program teaching students to improve ICT business processes and design custom ICT systems for organizational improvement. Part of the Opleiding ICT school.
• Software Engineering (SE) Bachelor Program Software Engineering bachelor program training students to develop, build, maintain, and test computer programs with applicability to the Surinamese ICT market and the wider Caribbean region. Part of the Opleiding ICT school.
• System Network Engineering (SNE) Bachelor Program System and Communication Networking bachelor program training students to become specialists in network and communication systems, with career opportunities in the Surinamese ICT market and the wider region. Part of the Opleiding ICT school.
• Institute for Certificate Studies

Quantifiable outcome

• 46 students completed mercury-free gold production course since 2015
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Founding partner collaboration established in 2010. HvA provided the base curriculum for UNASAT's programs, adapted for the Surinamese context. This partnership established the institutional framework and educational standards for the university's two main schools: ICT and Management & Economics.
• Anton de Kom University of SurinameminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Collaboration for knowledge sharing and potential future cooperation in higher education development in Suriname.
• NOVA (National Accreditation Organization)coreOthersNational accreditation body that has accredited UNASAT's ICT program (2015) and Management & Economics program (2019). Accreditation ensures program quality meets national standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zuyd University of Applied Sciences: Mid-sized Dutch HBO with business and technical bachelor programs. Operates the same applied-bachelor framework and competency-driven pedagogy as UNASAT, serving a similar working-adult student segment.
• Anton de Kom University of Suriname: Suriname's primary traditional public university, offering degree programs across humanities, sciences and social sciences. While UNASAT focuses on applied vocational bachelor's, both serve as the only two main higher-education options inside Suriname, making them direct substitutes for prospective Surinamese students.
• HAN University of Applied Sciences: Dutch University of Applied Sciences with extensive ICT, engineering, and business programs delivered through competency-based curricula. Comparable HBO model and applied-sciences positioning make it a structural peer for UNASAT.
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: A major Dutch University of Applied Sciences with international campuses and competency-based bachelor programs. Operates the same HBO framework and serves as a comparable European HBO peer for benchmarking curriculum and quality standards.
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA): UNASAT's founding Dutch partner and a leading University of Applied Sciences. HvA shares the same HBO (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs) educational model, competency-based curriculum structure, and applied-science focus, making it the architectural template and operational peer for UNASAT.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences: Dutch HBO institution offering bachelor degrees in business, engineering, ICT, and applied sciences. Shares UNASAT's applied-science orientation, part-time study options, and competency-based teaching model under the Dutch HBO framework.
• Avans University of Applied Sciences: Large Dutch HBO offering professional bachelor programs in business, ICT, and management. Highly comparable to UNASAT's Management & Economics and ICT schools, with similar part-time pathways for working professionals.
• Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS): One of the largest Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences, offering bachelor programs in business, ICT, and engineering. Directly comparable to UNASAT in operating model—HBO structure, competency-based learning, part-time/evening pathways for working adults.

Broad incumbents

• The University of the West Indies: The principal regional university serving the Caribbean (including Suriname-adjacent territories), offering broad undergraduate and graduate programs. Not a direct HBO competitor but competes for the same regional tertiary-education demand pool that UNASAT targets for the wider Caribbean.

Others

• Caribbean Examinations Council / CXC: Regional Caribbean examination and certification body. Acts as an adjacent education-ecosystem participant whose secondary-school credentials feed UNASAT's admissions pipeline, making it strategically relevant for understanding the upstream talent flow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/unasat-suriname

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Applied Science and Technology Suriname