Higher Education in DR Questions

Guatiao · Sep 7, 2004

After viewing the various threads on DR universities, I decided to research some info. I was shocked to learn that there are ABOUT 20 universities [I think] in the DR. Considering that the DR is a relatively young country with the oldest education institution in the New World, I wonder if the country can survive the next 100 years in this new world without Better Higher Education Institutions.

I am wondering what does the current government plan to do in order to solve our problems, especially in the universities?

It's quite ironic how I use to laugh and make fun of other countries for there poor educational system and easy/false matriculate but yet my country is in the same category.

Something which I could not find was if the DR has a NCAA type of government office to regulate Collegian Athletic Leagues? Do they have any leagues?
I remember reading a post by a DR1 member about his experiences in the 1970s coaching a Soccer team in DR for I think PUCMM.

Are these the only Universities that exist in DR? In your opinion which are the best and which are the worst? I know what some of the responses will be, but new insight would be great.

Pontificia Universidad Cat?lica Madre y Maestra [PUCMM] - http://www.pucmm.edu.do/
Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo [INTEC] - http://www.intec.edu.do/
Acci?n Pro Educaci?n y Cultura, Inc. [APEC] - http://www.apec.edu.do/ / http://www.unapec.edu.do/
Universidad Iberoamericana [UNIBE] - http://www.unibe.edu.do/
Universidad del Instituto Cultural Dom?nico-Americano [UNICDA] - http://www.icda.edu.do/
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo [UASD] - http://www.uasd.edu.do/
Central University of the East [UCE] - http://www.uce.edu.do/
National University of Pedro Henriquez Urena [UNPHU] - http://www.unphu.edu.do
Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago [UTESA] - http://www.utesa.edu/webutesa/home.htm
Universidad Eugenio Maria de Hostos [UNIREMHOS] - http://www.uniremhos.edu.do/
Universidad Cat?lica Santo Domingo [UCSD] - http://www.ucsd.edu.do
Universidad Dominicana O&M [UDOM] - http://www.udoym.edu.do/
Universidad Tecnol?gica del Cibao [UTECI] - http://www.uteci.edu.do/
Universidad del Caribe [UDC] - http://www.universidaddelcaribe.edu.do/
Universidad de la Tercera Edad [UTE] - http://www.ute.edu.do/
Universidad Nordestana [UNNE] - http://www.unne.edu/
Universidad Adventista Dominicana [UNDA] - http://www.unad.edu.do/
Universidad Abierta Para Adultos [UAPA] - http://www.uniabierta.edu.do/

Universidad Federico Henriquez y Carvajal [UFHEC] - not sure if still exists
Universidad Experimental Felix Adam [UNEFA] - not sure if operates

Good Day

suarezn · Sep 7, 2004

I don't get it! What are you shocked about? You think there should be more universities? Personally I think the government needs to worry about primary and secondary education first and foremost. Do you have any idea what the dropout rate in The DR is? I don't know, but I would dare say it's extremely high.
You also have to understand that The UASD (and a few others), have campuses in many areas of the country and have almost 100k students enrolled. By comparison Michigan State University has about 40k students, and that's considered huge here in the US.
I think we have the right number of universities right now. They just need more money to provide better education. As far as I know there are no people in The DR who are being kept from going to college, because of lack of institutions to attend. There are people who are not attending college, because they cannot afford it or because they feel going to college is a waste of time, because of the lack of decent jobs.

Guatiao · Sep 7, 2004

I should of stated what was wrong or needs adjustments.
1. From what I have researched and read [DR1 Forums], DR institutions are looked upon as a joke/weak compared to American schools.
2. Two universities [maybe more] have been banned and fined by the US Department of Education for receiving Financial Aid they did not need; stealing money.
3. Even though as you stated Universities are big and have various campuses throughout the country, they are not offering many choices in majors/minors, most have the same degrees.
4. I do not know how university libraries are? The number of volumes each contain.
5. I have read that Dominican officials would like to remove some institutions due to their poor preparedness of their alumni. Which has made me think, do some of these institutions really need to be operating.
6. Who monitors these institutions, are they doing a good job and how many of them are non-profit organizations as most Universities in the US are?

On other subjects involving Education:
I also have a strong belief that it all starts with primary education and the DR is way behind compared to other countries in similar ecomonic conditions. The DR has a very high dropout rate in Elementary schools and every poor schools in rural areas. The poor do not have access, unfortunately, that's why I asked <b><u>can the DR survive another 100 years?</u></b>

I found a old DR1 news from December 11, 1998 and it states "The study showed that 25% of children who enroll in primary schools will drop out by the fifth grade. Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic have the highest school drop-out rates, registering more than 40 percent."

I think that the DR government or private school should either add more courses to fit the modern world or create more colleges. I mean in the US we have alot of colleges community/public/private you name it we have it. Also are there any community colleges in DR?
But this is about Higher Education and I would like to know what is the current state of collegian sports?

OVERALL: I'm shocked at the state of the current system

Pib · Sep 7, 2004

Vamos por parte.

First let go on the broad brush. Not all DR universities are subpar. I am a proud graduate of INTEC, one of the two best. And good it is, our university has an EXCELLENT library and a modern curriculum, as well as a good, comfortable campus and great professors. The same can be said about PUCCMM, but this is a much larger university than INTEC with a more varied offering (INTEC's main areas of education are engineering and medicine).

Second, there is an institution that is in charge of superior education: La Secretar?a de Estado de Educaci?n Superior, Ciencia y Tecnolog?a.

We do agree that there are many subpar universities in the Dominican Rep. Some are really joke material, but they can't fool anyone, I've seen way too many times job adverts on the paper saying "only graduates from INTEC and PUCMM. I know I may sound a little snobish, but yes, I don't want my university tarred with the same brush as the others.

More: http://www.dr1.com/forums/showpost.php?p=214880&postcount=8

Guatiao · Sep 7, 2004

Can Anybody Answer these Questions?

To PIB:
I know every country has it's Harvards and Yales, in DR it's PUCMM and INTEC. It's good to hear that INTEC has a good library. I do not want to give the impression that I'm generalizing all DR Universities, but after researching the topic on Forums most DR1 posters seem to bad mouth DR Schools, telling foreigners [Prospective Students] not to go the country.

My Questions:
1. Which are the best of the best universities and which are the worst?
2. Is the SEESCYT doing a decent job?
3. Are there just these 20 universities, the ones I have provided in the 1st post, are there more or less?
4. Which universities are so bad they shouldn't be considered educational institutions?
5. Are there any community colleges in DR?
6. I would like to know what is the current state of collegian sports?
7. How many Universities are non-profit organizations as most Universities in the US are?
I ask this particular question because distribution of education is important
8. Which part of the country has the most Universities? El Cibao, Santo Domingo, El Sur, The North Coast?
9. Most importantly can the DR survive another 100 years? [With this current system in place]

I have more but I'm researching, if I can't find answers, I'll post them here.

DeQueTuPriva · Sep 7, 2004

capodominicano said:
After viewing the various threads on DR universities, I decided to research some info. I was shocked to learn that there are ABOUT 20 universities [I think] in the DR. Considering that the DR is a relatively young country with the oldest education institution in the New World, I wonder if the country can survive the next 100 years in this new world without Better Higher Education Institutions.

I am wondering what does the current government plan to do in order to solve our problems, especially in the universities?

It's quite ironic how I use to laugh and make fun of other countries for there poor educational system and easy/false matriculate but yet my country is in the same category.

Something which I could not find was if the DR has a NCAA type of government office to regulate Collegian Athletic Leagues? Do they have any leagues?
I remember reading a post by a DR1 member about his experiences in the 1970s coaching a Soccer team in DR for I think PUCMM.

Are these the only Universities that exist in DR? In your opinion which are the best and which are the worst? I know what some of the responses will be, but new insight would be great.

Pontificia Universidad Cat?lica Madre y Maestra [PUCMM] - http://www.pucmm.edu.do/
Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo [INTEC] - http://www.intec.edu.do/
Acci?n Pro Educaci?n y Cultura, Inc. [APEC] - http://www.apec.edu.do/ / http://www.unapec.edu.do/
Universidad Iberoamericana [UNIBE] - http://www.unibe.edu.do/
Universidad del Instituto Cultural Dom?nico-Americano [UNICDA] - http://www.icda.edu.do/
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo [UASD] - http://www.uasd.edu.do/
Central University of the East [UCE] - http://www.uce.edu.do/
National University of Pedro Henriquez Urena [UNPHU] - http://www.unphu.edu.do
Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago [UTESA] - http://www.utesa.edu/webutesa/home.htm
Universidad Eugenio Maria de Hostos [UNIREMHOS] - http://www.uniremhos.edu.do/
Universidad Cat?lica Santo Domingo [UCSD] - http://www.ucsd.edu.do
Universidad Dominicana O&M [UDOM] - http://www.udoym.edu.do/
Universidad Tecnol?gica del Cibao [UTECI] - http://www.uteci.edu.do/
Universidad del Caribe [UDC] - http://www.universidaddelcaribe.edu.do/
Universidad de la Tercera Edad [UTE] - http://www.ute.edu.do/
Universidad Nordestana [UNNE] - http://www.unne.edu/
Universidad Adventista Dominicana [UNDA] - http://www.unad.edu.do/
Universidad Abierta Para Adultos [UAPA] - http://www.uniabierta.edu.do/

Universidad Federico Henriquez y Carvajal [UFHEC] - not sure if still exists
Universidad Experimental Felix Adam [UNEFA] - not sure if operates

Good Day

Under the direction of the previous goverment, the Secretaria de Educacion released a report on the current state of the Dominican education system. It acknowledges the importance of university level institutions, especially in this day and age, but I think their primary concerns are at the primary and secondary levels: deterring drop-outs, improving the quality of education and the environment at liceos, and providing students with the resources they need to access institutions of higher learning. As of several months ago, the report was available of the Secretaria's website. It may still be there.

I am most familiar with PUCMM and UTESA. Yes, PUCMM has a library filled with the books (that you're not allowed to leave with) professors require on their syllabi. Most people in my family are PUCMM alumni. My cousin, however, will soon enter college and has decided that he will study at UTESA. According to him, the curriculum is similar, UTESA and PUCMM are of equal standing, but he prefers UTESA because he doesn't want to deal with the PUCMM classroom environment and the tuition costs.

I do not know enough about the LAW school/MED school curricula at PUCMM to comment on why American universities would consider Dominican universities a joke. I do however know that Dominicans don't understand why American students have to complete four years of undergrad work before proceeding to Law School or Medical school. American students don't understand why the classroom environment at PUCMM, in SOME cases, is so much like high school in the States, or why you can't check a book out of the library.

suarezn · Sep 7, 2004

Capo: OK I understand your concern now. There are community colleges in The DR. For instance in Cotui we have the Instituto Technologico Del Cibao Oriental ITECO and I believe there are similar institutions in other parts of the country. I do agree that some of these institutions could hardly be called centers of higher learning and they should be better regulated, but they are just a result of supply and demand. In a country with such need for affordable education they fulfill a space. I guess I would rather see these kinds of institutions than nothing at all. INTEC and PUCMM are decent schools, but not everyone can afford to attend there, thus you have UTESA, O&M and others catering to the rest of the population.

CyaBye3015 · Sep 7, 2004

capodominicano said:
I think that the DR government or private school should either add more courses to fit the modern world or create more colleges. I mean in the US we have alot of colleges community/public/private you name it we have it. Also are there any community colleges in DR?
But this is about Higher Education and I would like to know what is the current state of collegian sports?

OVERALL: I'm shocked at the state of the current system

Welcome to the Third World, perhaps you could donate the money to see your vision to fruition!

Joe

NALs · Sep 7, 2004

capodominicano said:
After viewing the various threads on DR universities, I decided to research some info. I was shocked to learn that there are ABOUT 20 universities [I think] in the DR. Considering that the DR is a relatively young country with the oldest education institution in the New World, I wonder if the country can survive the next 100 years in this new world without Better Higher Education Institutions.

I am wondering what does the current government plan to do in order to solve our problems, especially in the universities?

It's quite ironic how I use to laugh and make fun of other countries for there poor educational system and easy/false matriculate but yet my country is in the same category.

Something which I could not find was if the DR has a NCAA type of government office to regulate Collegian Athletic Leagues? Do they have any leagues?
I remember reading a post by a DR1 member about his experiences in the 1970s coaching a Soccer team in DR for I think PUCMM.

Are these the only Universities that exist in DR? In your opinion which are the best and which are the worst? I know what some of the responses will be, but new insight would be great.

Pontificia Universidad Cat?lica Madre y Maestra [PUCMM] - http://www.pucmm.edu.do/
Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo [INTEC] - http://www.intec.edu.do/
Acci?n Pro Educaci?n y Cultura, Inc. [APEC] - http://www.apec.edu.do/ / http://www.unapec.edu.do/
Universidad Iberoamericana [UNIBE] - http://www.unibe.edu.do/
Universidad del Instituto Cultural Dom?nico-Americano [UNICDA] - http://www.icda.edu.do/
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo [UASD] - http://www.uasd.edu.do/
Central University of the East [UCE] - http://www.uce.edu.do/
National University of Pedro Henriquez Urena [UNPHU] - http://www.unphu.edu.do
Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago [UTESA] - http://www.utesa.edu/webutesa/home.htm
Universidad Eugenio Maria de Hostos [UNIREMHOS] - http://www.uniremhos.edu.do/
Universidad Cat?lica Santo Domingo [UCSD] - http://www.ucsd.edu.do
Universidad Dominicana O&M [UDOM] - http://www.udoym.edu.do/
Universidad Tecnol?gica del Cibao [UTECI] - http://www.uteci.edu.do/
Universidad del Caribe [UDC] - http://www.universidaddelcaribe.edu.do/
Universidad de la Tercera Edad [UTE] - http://www.ute.edu.do/
Universidad Nordestana [UNNE] - http://www.unne.edu/
Universidad Adventista Dominicana [UNDA] - http://www.unad.edu.do/
Universidad Abierta Para Adultos [UAPA] - http://www.uniabierta.edu.do/

Universidad Federico Henriquez y Carvajal [UFHEC] - not sure if still exists
Universidad Experimental Felix Adam [UNEFA] - not sure if operates

Good Day

Once you add the technical schools and some localized universities or centers for higher education, the number of higher education places in the DR increases to about 40.

But, only a handfull are accredited by international organizations. The rest are to "calm the thirst of learning".

Many Dominicans head to school on evenings to study some course just for the sake of studying. Many know their lives won't change, but many folks here enjoy learning and reading and trying to understand the world.

Pib · Sep 7, 2004

I've never been to UTESA, but my mom is a graduate of both UNPHU (undergrad) and UTESA (postgrad) and her opinion is that UTESA is not at the same level as UNPHU (of course I am talking UNPHU more than 20 yrs. ago).

Pib · Sep 7, 2004

DeQueTuPriva said:
Yes, PUCMM has a library filled with the books (that you're not allowed to leave with).

Do they allow their own students to take books home? INTEC has an excellent library and outside users are welcome and even encouraged to use the facilities, but only students can take books out (and not all books, obviously).

DeQueTuPriva · Sep 7, 2004

Pib said:
Do they allow their own students to take books home? INTEC has an excellent library and outside users are welcome and even encouraged to use the facilities, but only students can take books out (and not all books, obviously).

To my knowledge, no. There is a section of the library called the sala dominicana that is dedicated solely to Dominican-related (historical, polictical, social, cultural, etc.) material. When I was there, either students were packed into the room trying to copy notes from the books, or there was an incredibly long line of students at the library copy center willing to pay to photocopy the material they needed.

Hillbilly · Sep 7, 2004

Re: Library at PUCMM

Especially the Sala Dominicana has priceless collections that just cannot be taken out of the library.

Theft has always been a problem at the library. Once, they even caught a kid throwing volums of the Encyclopedia Escasa Calpe out a window-Now the wondows are barred.

Student can borrow books just like in the states. If it is on Reserve the loan can be for a few hours or overnight. That way all can have access to the books.

Like most librarys in the country, funding is a major problem and the collection needs to be updated. It does have a complete collection of the National Geographic...well, almost complete..

As for The "cousin" that prefers UTESA over PUCMM, thank goodness he went to UTESA! I don't need any more lazy or weak students!! We had a 20% increase in enrollment. And BTW, UTESA is much more expensive than PUCMM. You pay a lot of money for the worst possible "education" and when you get into the job market""Where did you go to school?"
UTESA ?kay, come back tomorrow.....etcetcetc

Nobody that can go to UCMM or INTEC refuses to go because of cost.

I only wish my classrooms were like my high school!! OMG!!

About 60% on that list are a waste of time and could be closed at little loss to the country.

HB

suarezn · Sep 7, 2004

Hillbilly said:
BTW, UTESA is much more expensive than PUCMM. You pay a lot of money for the worst possible "education" and when you get into the job market""Where did you go to school?"
UTESA ?kay, come back tomorrow.....etcetcetc

HB

UTESA more expensive than PUCMM? Now I AM shocked...

Pib · Sep 8, 2004

Hillbilly said:
Nobody that can go to UCMM or INTEC refuses to go because of cost.

Lousy students like me would hardly get help. I had to count on the old man to pay for my tuition, but my friend did get help and student's loans. For an OK student attending INTEC should not be a problem provided they keep reasonably-good grades.

I have three cousins and a sister there now (I was the first in the family to attend INTEC). I am still waiting for my commission from them

DeQueTuPriva · Sep 8, 2004

Hillbilly said:
Especially the Sala Dominicana has priceless collections that just cannot be taken out of the library.

Theft has always been a problem at the library. Once, they even caught a kid throwing volums of the Encyclopedia Escasa Calpe out a window-Now the wondows are barred.

Student can borrow books just like in the states. If it is on Reserve the loan can be for a few hours or overnight. That way all can have access to the books.

Like most librarys in the country, funding is a major problem and the collection needs to be updated. It does have a complete collection of the National Geographic...well, almost complete..

As for The "cousin" that prefers UTESA over PUCMM, thank goodness he went to UTESA! I don't need any more lazy or weak students!! We had a 20% increase in enrollment. And BTW, UTESA is much more expensive than PUCMM. You pay a lot of money for the worst possible "education" and when you get into the job market""Where did you go to school?"
UTESA ?kay, come back tomorrow.....etcetcetc

Nobody that can go to UCMM or INTEC refuses to go because of cost.

I only wish my classrooms were like my high school!! OMG!!

About 60% on that list are a waste of time and could be closed at little loss to the country.

HB

:laugh: Are you mad, Hillbilly?

Just out of curiosity, what percentage of PUCMM students attended parochial or private schools? What percentage attended liceos?

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