Bogotá, Colombia.– The Dominican Republic once again stood out on the international stage of digital transformation, after the Vocational Schools of the Armed Forces and the National Police of the Ministry of Defense were recognized with the top award at the Latam Digital Awards 2026, held in the city of Bogotá, by obtaining 118,323 votes and engagement.
The recognition was announced during the awards gala held at the El Nogal Club, where projects, institutions, companies, media outlets, and organizations from different Latin American countries participated. In addition to this recognition, the Vocational Schools won first place in the Edutech pillar and third place in the Digital Government pillar, along with two honorable mentions.
This year’s edition brought together 724 applications, 432 finalists and representatives from 17 countries, in a competition that rewards initiatives linked to innovation, education, digital government, technological transformation, sustainability, artificial intelligence, digital media and social impact.
The Dominican delegation celebrated the result as a regional achievement, as it is a distinction that recognizes the work developed from a technical-vocational training model that combines practical education, social inclusion, technology, employability, and opportunities for young people, members of the Armed Forces, the National Police, their families, and citizens from different communities in the country.
We recommend reading: Ministry of Defense strengthens technical training at Vocational Schools with the delivery of new vehicles
Although the name of the Vocational Schools is usually associated within the Dominican Republic with traditional technical training, their participation in this awards ceremony showed a broader dimension: an educational network with a national presence that has been adapting its processes, communication, and programs to the new demands of training, employment, and digital transformation.
Colonel José Ramón Reyes Suárez (FARD), Director General of the Vocational Schools, received the recognition along with part of the Dominican delegation present in Bogotá. Following the announcement, he expressed his gratitude for the support of Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre (ERD), Minister of Defense, highlighting that his backing has been important to continue strengthening the educational and social mission of Digev within the national defense system.
Reyes Suárez also highlighted that the award is a testament to the collective effort of students, teachers, inspectors, collaborators, and communities linked to the institution.
“This achievement represents the work of many people who believe in technical education as a real tool for transformation. Vocational Schools are committed to continuing to train, include, and open opportunities for those who wish to improve themselves,” he/she expressed.
The award also takes on special value because the Vocational Schools had already been recognized in the previous edition of the Latam Digital Awards, when they achieved an important regional distinction with more than 65,000 votes, interactions, and shows of support through their digital campaigns.
During the ceremony, representatives from different countries agreed on highlighting the growth of public and private initiatives that use technology not only as a tool for modernization, but also as a way to generate social impact, improve services, strengthen capabilities, and bring opportunities closer to more citizens.
In the Dominican case, the recognition of the Vocational Schools once again brings to the table the role of technical-vocational education as a concrete path to connect training, employment, entrepreneurship, and human development.
The Dominican participation in the 2026 Latam Digital Awards took place in a context of growing regional interest in public innovation models, digital government, and results-oriented training, areas in which several of the country’s institutions have sought greater international visibility.
