INTEC, Doble Group, and Salesforce boost student retention in the Dominican Republic's higher education system.
Through Retention 360°, a platform created to provide timely follow-up to each student according to their needs, they seek to counteract university dropout rates in the country's higher education system.
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), in collaboration with companies Double Group y Salesforce, addressed the challenge of school dropouts at universities in the Dominican Republic and the plans they are implementing to promote sustainable universities.
Under the title "360° Retention: Strategies + Technology for Sustainable Universities," the event was held with the goal of providing rectors, vice-rectors, and directors of the country's 15 leading universities with strategies and technological tools to optimize student recruitment and retention, improve graduate management, and automate academic and administrative processes.
In the presentation, specialists in the field highlighted the importance of technological innovation to combat dropouts, and showed how Salesforce, specifically Education Cloud, allows un 360° tracking of the student. From the moment they enroll as a prospective student until they graduate, the platform identifies dropout risks and enables timely interventions.
To this end, they included Alberto Hernández, VP of Commercial Alliances at Doble Group, a company that offers Salesforce consulting and implementation services in Latin America and the Caribbean, and José David Contreras, Salesforce representative and Regional Director of Social Impact for Emerging Markets – Education and Nonprofit Sectors.
Additionally, they shared success stories from Latin American universities that have implemented Salesforce Education Cloud to retain a greater number of students at their institutions.
Alliet Ortega, interim rector of INTEC, indicated that working on retention is a commitment to the personal and professional success of each student. “We came to talk 360 degrees because we can't talk about retention without dropout. It goes hand in hand. Retention means guaranteeing the right to education and active listening and success in their training. Addressing dropout requires a comprehensive approach that combines pedagogy, well-being, management, and active listening,” she stated.
Ortega expressed concern about university dropouts, believing that every student who drops out represents the loss of a professional who can contribute to the country's economic, scientific, and cultural development.
He also explained that graduation and retention rates are key indicators of educational quality for universities. "We are also committed to equity, because working on retention also means ensuring equal opportunities," he added.
Representing Salesforce, José David Contreras presented the project, which focuses on a vision centered on a comprehensive approach to students and the educational audiences involved, in order to closely monitor their concerns and needs throughout their academic life, from the beginning to the end of their studies.
In a panel discussion on the tool, which included Alberto Hernández and Rosario Arostegui, Vice-Rector of Research and Outreach at INTEC, both shared the university's experiences in the implementation process. "It's important that we pay attention to this recruitment process because it's not just about the tool; there's a lot of work to be done toward a larger goal, and I welcome this invitation, because we're talking about the quality of education in our country."
The event concluded with a networking opportunity to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing, offering solutions for data-driven decision-making.