The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (MESCYT) reported that its international scholarship program has successfully integrated more than 80 Dominican graduates into senior management positions within prestigious global hotel chains. This announcement follows the Ministry receiving the Special Alimara Award during the 41st edition of the honors hosted by the CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy in Spain.
According to data provided by the Ministry, approximately 700 Dominican students have completed specialized tourism, hospitality, and gastronomy programs at CETT Barcelona. The impact of this academic investment is reflected in the current workforce:
• High-level management: Over 10% of these graduates now hold executive-level positions.
• Corporate leadership: Alumni are currently employed by major international brands, including Meliá Hotels International, Haier Group, Plaza, and various luxury properties in Palma de Mallorca.
• Technical pipeline: The CETT curriculum includes a technical-professional component allowing younger students to engage in practical internships at university-affiliated hotels before entering the global labor market.
International recognition in Barcelona
The Special Alimara Award recognizes MESCYT’s sustained commitment to developing human capital. Paula Disla, Vice Minister of International Relations, accepted the award on behalf of the institution.
During her remarks, Disla emphasized that “there is no tourism development without specialized training,” noting that the program has become a benchmark for academic mobility. She credited the continuity of the program across multiple administrations at the Ministry of Higher Education, including those of Ligia Amada Melo, Alejandrina Germán, Franklin García Fermín, and the current leadership of Rafael Santos Badía, for the program’s maturity and efficiency.
Strengthening academic alliances
During an official mission to Spain, Vice Minister Disla engaged in several high-level meetings to expand the scope of Dominican educational reforms:
• University of Barcelona & Catalonia Education Council: Discussions focused on tracking existing agreements and aligning cooperation with the proposed Dominican educational reform.
• Complutense University of Madrid: Efforts are underway to strengthen ties in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields and broaden academic collaboration.
• Student forums: In Madrid, the Vice Minister and the Dominican Ambassador Tony Raful held an open forum with current scholarship recipients to address the program’s evolution, student needs, and future challenges.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Ministry of Higher Education
CETT
31 March 2026