INTEC and ASONAHORES explore collaboration opportunities
The academy presented to the organization the various research projects it develops to find alternative solutions to the sargassum problem.
SANTO DOMINGO. The rector of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Julio Sanchez Marinez, held a meeting with the executive vice president of the Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), Aguie Lendor, in which it made the institution's resources available, with the aim of supporting the strategic initiatives of the business organization, within the framework of the agreement signed between both entities in 2022.
During the meeting, the rector of INTEC highlighted the institutional initiatives developed by the university to identify solutions to the sargassum problem. Since 2012, INTEC has been developing various research and initiatives aimed at identifying solutions to the arrival of sargassum tides to the coasts of the Dominican Republic. The university explores, among other initiatives, the production of biofertilizers, the first Dominican satellite to predict the arrival of sargassum, among other research and projects.
The rector of INTEC, who was accompanied by the vice-rector for Research and Liaison, Rosario Aróstegui and Director of Research at the university, Carlos Sanlley, outlined the research projects that the university develops in terms of sargasso, which address the entire cycle that includes the characterization of sargassum and its components, the prediction of its arrival and the monitoring of its approach to our coasts and beaches and the barrier and collection systems on the high seas and on the beaches.
Likewise, he spoke about academic initiatives to analyze the conditions for the disposal of sargassum as waste, its possible uses as fertilizer, biofuel, construction material, input for artisanal products and other uses.
Sánchez Maríñez also presented the offer of the Diploma in Management and Education on Sargassum, which has a first group of graduates.
In the exchange, the executive vice president of ASONAHORES expressed the interest of that business organization in having a platform for the study and dissemination of information relevant to the tourism and hotel sector, regarding which the rector of INTEC expressed the university's willingness to create a teaching research group on tourism. Likewise, Lendor expressed his interest in coordinating the design of academic programs that respond to the specific needs of the local tourism sector.
In mid-2022, the rector of INTEC and the then president of ASONAHORES, Rafael Blanco Tejera, signed a collaboration agreement in which they agreed to carry out training, research, and identification and promotion of solutions to the problems caused by sargassum and others that impact the tourism sector and Dominican society.