“Internationalization is not a luxury, it’s a commitment to the future.”
SANTO DOMINGO. “True internationalization occurs when the global dimension is integrated into the curriculum, research, and institutional management, ensuring coherence, sustainability, and social relevance.”
With these words, María Luisa Ferrand Estepan, Director of Academic Mobility of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), opened its participation in the Forum on the Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT).
Ferrand explained that internationalization should no longer be seen as an aspirational ideal, but as a comprehensive and strategic transformation journey, essential to guarantee the academic quality and competitiveness of Dominican universities.
The teacher stated that internationalization It is not just mobility, but integration, well, here it goes Beyond trips and agreements, it involves training professionals with global skills right on campus.
He also assured that it is not an event, it is a proceedings which requires strategic planning, continuity and ongoing evaluation, and emphasized that nIt is not an expense, but an investment which strengthens teaching, research and international positioning.
"Internationalization is not a luxury, it is an imperative necessity for Higher Education Institutions.", emphasized the academic, during the event held to strengthen the quality and competitiveness of Dominican education in the global arena.
The initiative seeks to identify opportunities, promote the exchange of best practices, and consolidate the international reach of the country's HEIs.
Objective of the Forum
The head of the MESCYT (Mescyt Institute of Technology), Dr. Franklin García Fermín, emphasized that the forum's purpose was to share internationalization strategies implemented by HEIs to strengthen educational quality, competitiveness, and global reciprocity.
García Fermín indicated that 170 priority curricula have been redesigned with a competency-based approach and that the National Council of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Conescyt) recently approved a new framework for teacher training, consolidating advances in educational planning.
“Over the past five years, under President Luis Abinader, we have aligned our higher education with global standards, producing doctors, engineers, and professionals who meet the highest levels of academic excellence.” said García Fermín.
Specific objectives
Through expert panels, the Forum addressed key topics: Critical Analysis of Internationalization: Demystifying Concepts and Guiding Policies and Practices in Dominican HEIs; Governance as a Pillar: Evaluating Leadership, Management, and Decision-Making to Improve Educational Quality; and Academic Mobility: Integrating Intercultural Approaches and Global Competencies into Curricula.
Also, International Cooperation: Strengthen networks, mobility programs, and interdisciplinary collaboration with equity and sustainability. Regional Context: Place Dominican HEIs within the dynamics of Latin America and the Caribbean. Local Experiences: Showcase progress of the "Dominican Republic is an Academic Destination" program to promote mobility.
Notable panelists included Juan José Maríñez, Dean of Graduate Studies at the Technological University of the South (UTESUR); Sandra Olaya, Director of Outreach at the Central University of the East (UCE); Juan Antonio Graciano, Dean of Engineering at the Technological University of the Eastern Cibao (UTECO); Juan Carlos García, Network of Young Leaders of the Caribbean; David Pequero Manzanares, Director of CETT; Elsa María Moquete, Director of Internationalization at APEC; María Luisa Ferrand, Director of Mobility at Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (Intec); Wady Raymundo Ramírez, rector of the Eugenio María de Hostos University (Uniremhos); Darwin Muñoz, vice-rector of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federico Henríquez y Carvajal University (UFHEC); and Carlos Guillermo Alvarado, secretary general of CSUCA.
A step towards regional leadership
Paula Disla, Vice Minister of International Relations at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Technology (MESCYT), emphasized that the Forum reinforces the commitment initiated in 2020 to position the Dominican Republic as an academic benchmark in the Caribbean.
In turn, Olga Sosa, Director of Academic Mobility at Mescyt, affirmed that the event is a vital space for dialogue and building alliances that will promote Dominican HEIs globally.
Featured attendees
The Forum was attended by the deputy ministers of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Culture (MESCYT), José A. Cancel and Juan Francisco Viloria, as well as the Chief of Staff, Juan F. Medina; the person in charge of Agreements and Conventions, Sabrina Gómez; the rectors, Tomás Ramírez (UNEFA) and José Vázquez (ITESMARENA); and the director of International Cooperation at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Antonio Medina.