Santo Domingo.- The ministers of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT), doctor Franklin García Fermín, and of Public Health, doctor Víctor Atallah, led a working meeting with directors and technicians from both institutions, with the aim of strengthening the national system of legalization, accreditation, homologation and revalidation of university degrees issued by foreign institutions.
During the meeting, both entities agreed to design a joint protocol that guarantees professionals graduated from universities outside the country, in various areas of knowledge, including Medicine, Law, Engineering and other disciplines, access to a rigorous, transparent and efficient process that allows them to obtain the official validation of their titles to legally practice in the Dominican Republic.
Dr. García Fermín emphasized that MESCyT is the governing body of the higher education system and that, in accordance with Law No. 139-01, it is responsible for guaranteeing the quality, equivalence, and relevance of academic degrees, especially when it comes to studies pursued abroad.
“La revalidación, homologación y acreditación no sólo son requisitos técnicos, sino garantías institucionales para proteger el derecho de los ciudadanos a recibir servicios profesionales confiables y con respaldo académico validado por el Estado dominicano”,
sostuvo el funcionario.
On his part, Minister Víctor Atallah pointed out that, in sensitive areas such as Medicine, Dentistry and other health sciences, it is essential that foreign degrees meet the academic and ethical standards required to practice in the country, in compliance with the regulations of the Ministry of Public Health and the MESCyT.
Currently, the revalidation process of titles in the Dominican Republic contemplates an exhaustive evaluation of the curriculum, the accreditation of the foreign university and the equivalence of academic content, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on Revalidation and Homologation of Academic Titles and Degrees, approved by MESCyT.
The authorities emphasized that this institutional strengthening also responds to the sustained increase in requests for revalidation of degrees by Dominicans trained abroad, as well as foreigners residing in the country, who aspire to practice regularly and in accordance with the current legal framework.
The MESCyT reiterated that professional practice in the Dominican Republic without the proper validation of titles constitutes a violation of national laws and may be subject to sanctions.
García Fermín reaffirmed the government’s commitment to academic excellence, the quality of higher education, and the strengthening of processes that ensure that all degrees awarded by foreign universities meet the highest standards, for the benefit of the education system, professional practice, and Dominican society in general.
