NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN:FUNDING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Dominican Republic

Presenter: Rosa Rodriguez

Dominican Republic ´s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT)

Scholarship Progam

Objetives & Goals:

• Expand opportunities for academic and professional careers identified as priorities in the context of social and economic development of the country and higher education needs of the Dominican population.

• Strengthen graduate level training and studies within a cooperative approach and internalization of higher education .

• Increase the education budget and expand the coverage of it throughout the whole population.

Ministerio de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (2011). Informe Estadístico – Memorias, Viceministerio de Educación Superior, Período Enero 2010 /Noviembre 2011. MESCyT, 48 pp.

The MESCyT Scholarship Program Overview

• Robust scholarship program for Dominican students internationally.

• Scholarships are available for both undergraduate and graduate levels. Priority level: Ph.D.s.

• MESCyT seeks to provide advanced degrees for students, and advanced training for professionals among all sectors of the economy.

• The Ministry is also interested in programs for teachers training and development; Internship program where students come for short term exchanges focused on teacher training and curriculum development.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Be a Dominican citizen.

• Reside permanently in the Dominican Republic.

• Graduate Degree with a minimum of 80 pts. or 3.0 pt. average.

• Commitment to return to the Dominican Republic for 2 years following the completion of their studies.

CURRENT FIELD OF STUDY PRIORITIESFOCUS ON:

• Engineering.

• Information Technology and Telecomunications.

• Film /Cinematography and the Arts, Music , Composition and Performance.

• Business and Administration (Marketing, International Business, Hospitality).

• Graduate programs are also a priority of interest in different fields of studies.

• Education and Curriculum Development.

STEPS TO DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MESCyT

• Prepare a draft with a proposal outlining how your institution can meet the Ministry´s academic priorities.

• Describe what kind of financial package service you can offer students.

• The Government funds and budget will not permit the Minstry to increase the numbers of grants awarded per year.

• The Minister seeks as its top priority to expand the number of U.S. universities receiving Dominican students as long as they can sponsor them.

• Set up an appointment for a meeting with the Minister in person.

• Proposals and communication in Spanish will be helpful, but is not obligatory.

THE AGREEMENT

• In order to establish scholarship agreements the Minister wants to sign articulation agreements with institutions that offer programs in their priority field of studies.

• Institutions that are willing to agree to set levels for tuition, lodging fees and other expenses that the Ministry can´t cover due to budget limitations.

• The Ministry will preselect candidates and send them to the universities for final approval.

THE TOP COUNTRIES RECEIVING DOMINICANS STUDENTSWITH MESCyT SCHOLARSHIPS

2005-2011 Period• Spain: 4,736 (58.49%) • United States of America: 1,311

(16.19%); • Argentina: 350 (4.32%)• Cuba: 294 (3.63%) • México: 172 (2.12%) • Other countries (Europe and

Central America) 871 students (10.76%) and in Long Distance Programs 134 (1.65%) in 2010.

Ministerio de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (2011). Informe Estadístico – Memorias, Viceministerio de Educación Superior,

Período Enero 2010 /Noviembre 2011. MESCyT, 48 pp.

In the United States:

This graph that you see here reflects the amount of Dominican students that were

accepted in US universities throughout 2001-2009.

Dominican students in the USA

2008: DR 1159 / US 9482009: DR 1387 / US 12052010: DR 1400 / US 14482011: DR 1398 / US 13242012: DR 1610 / US 1343

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

• Mrs. Ligia Amada Melo, Minister of MESCyT, lmelo@meescyt.gov.doTel. (809)- 731-1247

• Mrs. Dania Marcano , Administrative MinisterAssistant.Tel. (809)-731-1245

• Mrs. Rosa Rodriguez, EducationUSA Adviser.

• Mrs. Maria Mercedes Salmon, REAC.

Thank You

Questions?