55 Ordinary Graduation Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)

Rector's words

October 2017

Madam Secretary President of the Board of Regents, Fabiola Herrera, Members of the General Assembly and the Board of Regents, Members of the Academic Council and directors, teachers and collaborators of INTEC, Mr. Guest speaker, Sergio Roitberg, Mr. Director of IESA, Carlos Garcia Graduates and Graduates, Relatives and related, Ladies and Gentlemen

Finally, after two, three, four or more years of effort, today we find ourselves before the event with the greatest symbolism and greatest significance in the life of each student: the moment of graduation. It is an act that each of you, male and female graduates, has eagerly awaited, to close a period of effort with a flourish and enter with firm steps to a new stage of professional life. Therefore, I express an enthusiastic and sincere congratulation, which is extended to all family members and associates who gave them support during the journey, and to the professors who contributed their dedication to help them achieve a quality education.

I know that each of you has a plan that will define the next steps in life. For some, graduation is the gateway to a job or a promotion; For others, graduation is the path to higher studies, in the country or abroad; for others, today is the first brick for the construction of a new business that may revolutionize the world. It was said in ancient times that there are many ways to get to Rome and, in the same way, I am sure that each one will find a unique and unrepeatable way to satisfy their professional aspirations. I take this solemn moment to wish you every success, whatever your final destination.

However, graduates and graduates, I would also like to remind you that professional success is only part of the challenges that lie ahead. In a country like ours, burdened by immense needs and unseemly inequalities, it is also important to ask in what other ways you can contribute to improve the living conditions of other Dominicans and other Dominicans, and to build a better society. Society will want to know, for example, what do INTEC graduate economists think about the magnitude of public debt? Society hopes to know what INTEC graduated engineers will invent to help alleviate the housing deficit for the most needy classes?

In another order, what can the new experts in actuarial calculation do to improve the functioning of the social security system? To what extent will the new experts in environmental issues serve to improve the conditions of our river basins and the quality of the air we breathe? And, finally, society deserves to know if INTEC graduates will contribute in any way to reduce the maternal mortality rate, if graduates of educational programs are doing something to reduce pregnancy rates in young adolescents and if they Psychology graduates will help the country reduce its levels of family violence.

As professionals and as citizens, male and female graduates, you have a great share of responsibility to contribute to the common good. Every coin has two sides. In this case, the coin they receive upon graduation has, on the one hand, a great share of pride and satisfaction, but on the other, it has a moral obligation to contribute new knowledge to improve the living conditions of the community. It is our hope that each one of you grows without limits in your private life, but that at the same time you care about the growth of others, and that you take on this challenge with all the talent, creativity, social responsibility and sense of commitment that characterize to our Beehive.

You are only young once in your life and the vast majority of you are very lucky to be young now. Honor that privilege with innovation, courage, and vitality. Only with your input will a better tomorrow come. Your ideas and convictions are essential to build a more just society. Your hands are needed to build a brighter future. INTEC is absolutely certain that those hands will not fail.

Let me now introduce our guest speaker to you. Sergio Roitberg completed his university studies in his native country, Argentina, and then moved to the United States, where he pursued an outstanding career as a communicator. He was a news anchor, correspondent and producer for international television channels.

In 1998, he founded his company, Newlink, and in less than 20 years turned it into one of the leading communications consultancies in Latin America. During those years he has traveled through Latin America and the world giving conferences on topics such as business innovation, technology disruption and the strategies that companies can adopt to adapt to changes.

Mr. Roitberg is the author of the essay "Under Fire" in which he explains his Theory of Orbital Thought, as well as several articles about how to communicate in the digital age and how to protect one's reputation in an age of transparency. His vision establishes that, in a society empowered by technology, we have all stopped being passive entities and have become actors of change. That's why, says Roitberg, no one can achieve their goals anymore if they don't get the collaboration of others. In this framework, finding a shared purpose is key.

These and other reasons make it an honor to have you as a guest speaker at our graduation and I ask all of you to welcome you with loud applause. Thanks a lot.