The Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña bestowed an Honoris Causa Doctorate upon President Leonel Fernandez yesterday. University doctor Mariano Defilló said that the distinction to the President was for his contributions and support to the technological advance of education, the promotion of culture and advancement of national values. The School of Humanities and Education of the private university made the distinction. Dr. Defilló also highlighted that world educational centers had also honored President Fernandez for his achievements as a statesman. He mentioned the Honoris Causa doctorates granted by the Sorbonne University of Paris in 1997 (Law and Political Sciences School) and by the University of Harvard (Law School) in 1999. Accepting the award, President Fernandez spoke of his attempt to raise the level of civilization of the country, bringing it into modern times. He explained that was why his government focused on building megaprojects and capitalizing the state enterprises. But he also highlighted his government’s investment in building and repairing public schools, medical centers and clinics. He stressed the giant step that the Santo Domingo Cyberpark will mean to the changing of the industrial paradigm of the country, when it is opened on 8 August. He said that in his government efforts, education was first as it is the most sensitive area to the future of the country, given the impact that technological changes have had on it, in such a way there is talk of an educational revolution. "In this globalized world, education acts on the creation of new contexts, contexts in which knowledge is no longer a slow process, scarce or stable and in which schools have stopped being the only channels by which new generations come into contact with knowledge and information," said the President.
