Miriam Pabón understands fundamental preparation of professionals with doctorates in engineering
SANTO DOMINGO. -The research challenge in the field of engineering is in develop professionals with doctorates (Ph.D.) and give know the existing opportunities for the ones Hispanics participate in postgraduate academic activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM, for its acronym in English).
The statement was made by the doctor Miriam Pabon-GonzalezDean of the Graduate School of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, who understood that another engineering challenge lies in the need to prepare Latinos with academic skills to develop doctoral thesis.
"A doctoral thesis has to have an innovation and that is a significant contribution to your field of study and to achieve it you need continuous reading," said Pabón during the presentation of the PhD in Engineering and Applied Sciences with areas of study in Structural Engineering, Geotechnics and Manufacturing, which will deliver the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (UPPR).
Pabón understood that trends in studies of higher education are marked by a diverse distribution in the type of student, fields of study and interdisciplinary work, increase in the Hispanic population in the United States y few of them with Ph.D. in STEM areas.
Regarding demographic data, Pabón said that in the 2017-2018 academic year, 53% of the master's and doctoral degrees in the United States were awarded to women. This implies that more women received masters and doctorate degrees compared to those received by men. In addition, in the same period there was a 1.3% decrease in applications for international students to graduate studies and in the last three years in STEM, an increase of 6.8% in Latino students was reflected.
During his opening speech, Arturo Del Villar, dean of the Engineering Area of INTEC, said the engineering value it arises from the human effort reduction and the consumption of resources needed to provide value or service, and engineering more than another profession is critical to improve human productivity.
“This PhD offered at INTEC by the Polytechnic of Puerto Rico will greatly help to close the research knowledge gap that exists in our country. At INTEC we are not going to the future, we are making the future right now, ”said Del Villar.
On your side, Ernesto Vazquez Martinez, Executive Vice President of the UPPR, said that INTEC and the academy he runs have 17 years of academic alliance, period of hard work by its administrators and teachers.
“The Ph.D. It is the highest academic degree at the university level which requires study, effort, dedication and sacrifice. The scientific innovation, professional satisfaction, competitive advantages and opportunities offered by this academic range are endless and, therefore, today INTEC and the Polytechnic bet on those who come together to be pillars of the scientific improvement of the region, ”Vázquez understood.
In the activity they were also present José Feliz, academic vice rector of INTEC and Dionysus Navarro, president of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA).
About the doctorate
The presentation of the doctorate was given by Norberto Rojas, coordinator of the Postgraduate Level of the Engineering Area of INTEC, who informed that the program will be implemented in rounds that will last 11 quarters of 14 weeks each one, and requires 60 credits.
"Professionals with this doctorate will contribute to the field of engineering, through the development and design of independent research with a multidisciplinary approach, and will lead to important changes in many of the areas of economic development," Rojas explained.
He explained that the study area will be framed in Manufacturing Engineering; Civil Engineering Structures, and Civil Engineering Geotechnics. The program will be taught by a team of high quality teachers from both countries.
Professionals who complete the Ph.D. degree in Engineering and Applied Sciences (Ph.D.) will contribute innovative knowledge in their research areas, achieve the discovery of new scientific perspectives and develop new technical and professional skills.