Graduating from the UASD medical school is no guarantee for practicing the profession, according to a report in Diario Libre. First, recent graduates find it very difficult to get one of the limited openings for the public hospital internship that is required to get official authorization to practice.
The latest statistical report (2010-2011) on degrees chosen by Dominican graduates indicates that 34,051 students are enrolled in medicine, 7.83% of all university students. The degree’s popularity is second only to accounting, in which 43,996 students are enrolled, for 10.11% of all university students. Ironically, a study on the demand for professionals by the National Association of Young Professionals says that 27% of companies find it difficult to recruit qualified people in the areas of accounting and finance. But in contrast with doctors, Higher Education Minister Ligia Melo says graduates will not have a hard time finding work given the demands of the Tax Agency (DGII) for organized book keeping. Herrera Industries Association president Victor Castro says that companies are looking for a more rounded professional, who is also proficient in English and computer skills, which not all accountancy graduates possess.
Other popular degrees are psychology, with 30,255 for 6.95%, law with 28,122 students for 6.45%, business with 26,675 or 6.13%, and marketing with 25,142 for 5.78%.
The Higher Education Ministry says that a study has been commissioned to assess the needs for trained people in 10 provinces. When the results are in, Minister Melo says that she will meet with the rectors so they can restructure their academic offers. She says that for several years now she has been encouraging universities to offer degree courses that are in line with labor market needs.
She commented that law is a degree that is already saturated. She said the Ministry does not grant any scholarships for law, only for postgraduates. She says that marketing and business places should also be limited.
The Minister says that she wants to see more students in farming-related areas that currently total only 4,570 students. She says they offered scholarships to study farming in the United Kingdom and had plans to send ten students, but only four applied.
A total of 13,917 students are studying for tourism degrees, or 3.20%. She said students are discouraged by the low wages at hotels that demand long working hours.
Victor Castro says the country needs more specialists who are now being paid more than professionals. Minister Melo agrees and says the universities should offer short two-year vocational courses and students should have the option of continuing their studies once they are employed. She suggested that the UASD regional branch in Higuey, for instance, could offer training in refrigeration, mechanics and electricity. She also would like to see more students studying engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.