INTEC Rector proposes MINERD-MESCyT merger to strengthen STEM education
Engineer Arturo Del Villar lamented the absence of a state policy that systematically promotes applied research and innovation with an adequate budget.
SANTO DOMINGO.- The rector of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Arturo Del Villar, stated that the process of unifying the ministries of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) and of Education (MINERD) should become a strategic opportunity to strengthen science, innovation and the training of high-level talent.
In an analysis of the challenges of national development, Del Villar warned that the country's economic growth cannot be sustained solely on macroeconomic indicators, but rather on the capacity to develop human capital prepared to respond to the demands of strategic sectors such as digital banking, logistics, smart tourism, and advanced manufacturing.
Given the growing gap between the needs of the production system and the availability of professionals in areas STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), the academic put forward INTEC's proposal to create a National Science and Technology Policy that encourages high school students to study those careers.
“The country will not be able to close its social gaps or maintain its competitiveness if it does not decide today to develop the talent of tomorrow. Investing in science is not a luxury of developed countries; it is the basic tool of nations that aspire to be masters of their own destiny,” he stated.
The proposal arises from the disparity between the demand for "high value added" talent and the national supply, since less than 30% of university graduates are from STEM areas, a fact that pushes leading sectors to recruit international talent due to the shortage of local specialists.
Furthermore, the Rector of INTEC pointed out that there is insufficient investment in human capital development, stating that spending on Research and Development (R&D) in the country remains below 0.1% of GDP, "a figure far from regional competitiveness standards."
“This deficiency is exacerbated by the absence of a state policy that systematically promotes applied research and innovation with an adequate budget,” he added.
The policy proposed by INTEC aims to include strategic incentives, including scholarships and stipends for high-demand careers in computing, basic sciences, and engineering; in turn, the creation of funding for applied research that solves real problems in industry and society.
Furthermore, Del Villar said that the university proposes that the Policy promote university research centers as engines of local development and respect for autonomy, as well as guarantee that the new governmental structure preserves academic freedom and the administrative autonomy of universities.
“The Dominican Republic will not be able to close its social gaps or sustain its competitiveness if it does not decide, today, to develop the talent of tomorrow. Investing in science is not a luxury of developed countries; it is the basic tool of nations that aspire to be masters of their own destiny,” he stated.
Finally, Del Villar reiterated INTEC's commitment to quality, transformative education geared toward national development, and called for building educational reform through consensus and with a long-term vision. "Investing in science is not a luxury; it is a strategic decision for the country to be master of its own destiny," he stated.